In an unexpected move, the state Senate Rules Committee has rejected 36 of former Governor Asa Hutchinson’s last batch of appointments to state boards and commissions.
Senate Rules Committee Chairman Clint Penzo, R-Springdale, explained that the Senate had received Hutchinson’s last batch of 50 appointment letters shortly before Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders took office on January 10 and so had no time to question Hutchinson about numerous nominees who are unfamiliar to many Senators.
Only fourteen nominees made the cut and were recommended to the state Senate for approval, including
- William Ingram Phillips of Fairfield Bay and Melonaie Gullick of Conway (Arkansas Veterans Commission),
- Arkansas State University System VP of University Relations and former Democratic state Representative Shane Broadway of Bryant (War Memorial Stadium Commission), and
- Magnolia banker and former Democratic Bruce Maloch (Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission).
Individuals who were not recommended included:
- Hutchinson’s former chief of staff Alison Williams of North Little Rock (Arkansas Educational Television Commission) (State Banking Board)
- Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System Executive Director Amy Fecher of Sherwood (state Board of Nursing), and eight other appointees to the Nursing Board; and
- former Department of Commerce spokeswoman Alisha Curtis of Little Rock (state Board of Health) as well as two other health board appointees.
Any Senator can move to accept any of the rejected nominees, despite the Rules Committee’s recommendation last Monday.