Gov. Beebe Signs Law To Leave Lt. Governor’s Office Vacant
by February 28, 2014 12:39 pm 91 views
Gov. Mike Beebe signed SB139 into law on Friday (Feb. 28) – a measure that allows the governor to not call a special election to fill the vacant seat of Lt. Governor Mark Darr.
Darr resigned from office earlier this year after an ethics scandal showed he misspent and misreported campaign and office funds.
The bill signed by Beebe says that if a vacancy in the Lt. Governor’s office occurs, a special election shall not be held if it will be filled in a general election in less than 10 months. It also gives the governor discretion to not call for a special election if he determines it “is impractical because of the timing of the vacancy.”
The non-fiscal bill would normally not be considered in a fiscal session unless two-thirds of the General Assembly approved.
The State Senate voted 35-0 for the measure. The Arkansas House of Representatives approved the bill by a 76-10 margin with 14 either not voting or voting present.