Broadway Withdraws As Candidate For Higher Ed Post (updated)

Former State Sen. and Lt. Governor candidate Shane Broadway (D) has withdrawn his candidacy for director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) citing his wife’s health as the reason.

Broadway delivered a letter today to Gov. Mike Beebe (D), who had recommended Broadway to the state higher education board.

"Serving as Interim Director of the ADHE is a tremendous honor but it is also a position that requires a great deal of time away from home.  As you and the First Lady know, Debbie (Broadway’s wife) and I have been presented with new challenges over the past month in our ongoing battle with Debbie’s Multiple Sclerosis," Broadway wrote.

He said that he was willing to remain as deputy director once a new director was selected.

"If the new Director so chooses, I would be willing to stay at the agency as Deputy Director to focus on the many issues we have before us and allow the Director to also represent our state to the many state, regional and national organizations that we are currently working with to improve student success.  Doing so will allow me to focus my energies closer to home," said Broadway, who will remain interim director while the search for a new director takes place.

The Arkansas Times first reported Broadway’s withdrawal.

Broadway’s potential appointment had been a source of controversy. Two Republican legislators sought an opinion from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) on whether or not Broadway met the legal criteria for the position. McDaniel was reviewing a final draft of the opinion, but had not released it.

UPDATE: A spokesman for the Attorney General says the opinion will be released on Monday.