State Sen. Ben Gilmore resigns, takes role with AG Tim Griffin

State Sen. Ben Gilmore, R-Crossett, said Friday (June 26) that he would resign from office and take a role with the office of Attorney General Tim Griffin, who also announced several staff changes.

Griffin said Gilmore will serve as senior advisor.

“I am pleased to announce that State Sen. Ben Gilmore will join my office as senior advisor on July 1,” Griffin said. “Gilmore will resign from the Arkansas Senate and will continue to serve the state in this new role as a key part of my senior staff.

“Ben is a trusted friend and steadfast public servant. For the past five and a half years, he has served the constituents of southeast Arkansas in Senate District 1 with distinction and has sponsored key legislation that has made Arkansans safer, eased the tax burden on small businesses, and helped establish Arkansas as the most pro-life state in the country. He previously served as my deputy chief of staff and communications director when I was lieutenant governor.”

Gilmore was first elected to the State Senate in 2020, and he took office in 2021. His district covers a large swath of southeast Arkansas.

“I am thrilled and deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the people of Arkansas in my new role with Attorney General Tim Griffin,” Gilmore said. “Attorney General Griffin and his committed team are steadfast defenders of Arkansas, relentless in combating those who target Arkansans, attempt to weaken our laws, or undermine our conservative values. I am eager to join this distinguished team and contribute to their already exceptional work.”

In the 2023 session, Gilmore was the lead sponsor of an omnibus bill passed to lengthen sentences served by those convicted of crimes. The Protect Arkansas Act restructured sentencing for violent criminals, including requiring offenders convicted of crimes including murder, rape, human trafficking and child sex abuse to serve 100% of their sentences.

Griffin’s other staff changes include the departure of Chief Deputy Ryan Owsley and the promotion of General Counsel Zach Mayo to Chief Deputy. Deputy General Counsel Kevin Lee is being promoted to General Counsel.

The attorney general also announced that Deputy Attorney General Darnisa Johnson will retire from the office’s Criminal Division. She will be succeeded as deputy attorney general in the Criminal Division by Vada Berger, who has worked in the office for over three decades.

Deputy Attorney General Tammera Harrelson, who has led the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) since June 2023, is also retiring at the end of July. She will be succeeded as deputy attorney general by Leigh Patterson, who has served as senior assistant attorney general within MFCU since August 2024.