Last week we reported that Secretary of State Mark Martin’s executive assistant, Teresa Belew, no longer worked for the office.

A Times Freedom of Information Act request turned up Belew’s resignation letter and an e-mail she wrote to Martin’s Chief Deputy Doug Matayo. Belew said she resigned over concerns that “certain aspects related to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are not being properly followed by the Secretary of State’s Office.”

Advertisement

Belew said she was told by Deputy Secretary of Public Affairs Alice Stewart to delete an e-mail that was part of a response to an extensive FOIA request by the Arkansas Times. Stewart says she never asked Belew to delete an e-mail, but a calendar reminder that she believed did not fall within the scope of the request.

Belew said she stands behind her letter and e-mail, including an assertion that the office’s legal counsel, A.J. Kelly, told her “the most important thing was to delay the delivery of the FOIA until after budgets were approved.”

Advertisement

Stewart says the office is looking for a replacement. Belew, 53, is the former executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and was paid $50,000.

Help to Keep Great Journalism Alive in Arkansas

Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We've been battling powerful forces for 50 years through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. Together, we can continue to hold the powerful accountable and bring important stories to light. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community.

Previous article Getting it Next article Tea Party governance in Baxter County