Gov. Mike Beebe today signed SB 139 which gives him the power not to call a special election to fill the lieutenant governor’s office this year.

Mark Darr resigned Feb. 1, with 11 months left in his term, after it was discovered he’d spent taxpayer and campaign money on personal expenses. There was bipartisan agreement that the position, which has extremely limited duties, need not be filled in an election year.

Advertisement

So it’s been done. The relevant language:

(c) A special election for a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor shall not be held if:

(1) The vacancy occurs less than ten (10) months before the next scheduled general election;
(2) The office of Lieutenant Governor would in regular course be filled at the next scheduled general election; and
(3) The Governor determines that the cost of holding a special election for a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor less than ten (10) months before the office will be filled at the next scheduled general  election is impractical because of the timing of the vacancy. 

Note this law change applies to the statute that also covers vacancies in the U.S. house and Arkansas legislature. It makes some changes in the 150-day limit for calling an election after a vacancy occurs. Many fear it opens to the door to gubernatorial skulduggery. For example: What if Johnny Key resigns from the Senate after getting UA lobby job. The only announced candidate so far is Rep. John Burris. He couldn’t run for a special election for the remainder of the term. A little awkward. Maybe the governor would find a way to say circumstances interfered.

Advertisement

Darr resigned Feb. 1. He’s on a monthly payment plan to pay $11,000 in fines for violation of ethics rules. The state Ethics Commission said he’d made his second $1,000 payment today, the due date. I’m checking on the status, too, of $9,836 he’s supposed to reimburse the state for improper expense payments, as well as an earlier $1,137 payment that got lost in processing.

Advertisement

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article John Neal Rock&Roll wins round 5 of Musicians Showcase Next article Bennett’s Military will stay downtown, but precise location still under study