Springdale businessman named by Gov. Hutchinson to Arkansas Highway Commission (Updated)

Real estate agent Philip Taldo of Springdale will join the Arkansas Highway Commission in January. Taldo, broker and co-owner of Griffin Realtors Commercial Division and Weichert Griffin Realtors, will serve a 10-year term.

On Monday (Dec. 19), Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Taldo to replace Little Rock native Frank D. Scott Jr., whose term expires in January. The governor announced his decision at the Holiday Inn in Springdale. The commission has oversight responsibility for the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department.

“I’m excited,” Taldo said. “I feel like it’s a challenge I’m up to.”

Taldo will serve in the commission’s at large position, serving the “entire state,” Hutchinson said.

“He understands growth and will make an outstanding commissioner.” His term will expire Jan. 14, 2027.

Hutchinson and Taldo are Springdale natives and played football together under coach Jarrell Williams.

“He’s been an ardent friend and supporter of mine,” Hutchinson said. He’s been in Northwest Arkansas in “good times and bad. He’s done well and worked hard.”

Taldo also is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Council, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest Advisory Board. He’s also a member of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Taldo, who has no immediate plans in his position as a highway commissioner, said he is excited to work with a “good group of men” and looks forward to making some “good strides” in the infrastructure of the state. “I’ve been in transportation since 1992,” and was appointed by Bobby Hopper to serve on a transportation committee. Hopper, a former highway commissioner and for whom the tunnel on Interstate 49 was named, said Taldo will “make a great commissioner.”

Scott, a bank executive with First Security Bank, was appointed by former Gov. Mike Beebe to serve the unexpired term of John Burkhalter, who resigned from the commission in 2013 to focus on his run as Democratic nominee for Arkansas lieutenant governor. Republican Tim Griffin won the seat. Scott, who worked in Beebe’s administration for five years primarily as director of intergovernmental affairs and deputy director of policy, was appointed as commissioner Oct. 17, 2013.

Scott said his time on the commission has been a “humbling experience.” His term will end Jan. 14, the day before Taldo joins the commission. He’s “really excited” for Taldo and said how “civically engaged” he’s been, citing Taldo’s 14 years of experience on the airport authority. After Scott is no longer in the position, he said he will focus on “faith, business and politics.”

Other highway commissioners include chairman Dick Trammel of Rogers, vice chairman Tom Schueck of Little Rock, Robert S. Moore of Little Rock and Alec Farmer of Jonesboro. Hutchinson’s first appointment to the commission was Farmer, whose term will expire in January 2025. Beebe appointed the other existing commissioners. Trammel’s term is the next to expire in January 2019.