Clark Hall Lobbies Against Dollar General Beer Permit (UPDATE)

I noticed with some interest a story from the Arkansas News Bureau saying that Rep. Clark Hall, who is running for Congress, testified before the Alcohol Control Board against granting a permit to Dollar General in Marvell to sell beer.  It is not unheard of for a legislator to do this, but it is pretty rare.

For example, former state Sen. Jim Holt spoke against the ABC granting Macadoodle’s a permit to sell liquor at its convenience stores in Springdale a few years back. Holt’s objections were primarily centered on his moral objections to alcohol.

I have asked Hall his reason for opposing the Dollar General permit, but did not receive a response.  Somehow, I doubt his objection was the same as Holt’s.

The ANB story points out that there were major drug arrests in “Operation Delta Blues,” which involved the police chief in Marvell.  The explanation was given that the local police would have a problem handling the increased crime from the sale of beer in Marvell.

That could be it.  But I also notice a few thousand dollars in lobbyists’ donations to Hall’s Congressional campaign – such as from Bruce Hawkins from DBH Management – which has clients in the liquor business and interests in not having to compete with Dollar General. He’s also accepted money in the past for his state house campaign from others in the liquor industry such as Anheuser-Busch and the Wholesale Beer Distributors of Arkansas trade association.

I will also note that there are four businesses in Marvell which already have permits to sell alcohol – E-Z Mart, Marty Mart, Rose Marie’s, and Sims Enterprise Circle D. There are 42 total permits issued in Phillips County according to the ABC Board.

But I am sure money had nothing to do with it, otherwise Sheffield Nelson would have called another press conference.

UPDATE – I did hear back from Hall on this.

“Simply put, the majority of people in the area were opposed.  Hundreds signed a petition against, and there was not much constituent support in favor.  Went along with their interests,” Hall tells me in an email.