Morning Roll Call~ News You Need to Know

I know it is not morning but there are a few stories that need highlighting. Although things are still moving a little slow in the political realm (it could still just be me), I anticipate come Monday things will begin to warm up in preparation for opening day January 10th. 

Double Dribble or Dipper? 

Michael Wickline wrote an article today in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that should cause pause for all Arkansans, especially those in District 54.

Fred Smith, State Rep.-elect (D-Crawfordsville) for district 54 and a former Harlem Globetrotter, faces a charge of felony theft and a complaint filed by Willie Gammon, Smith’s former opponent in the Nov 2^nd election, with the state Claims Commission alleging that Smith does not meet the residency requirements for office.

According to the article Mr. Smith has been charged with “theft of property delivered by mistake, after a Division of Legislative Audit in a review of the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2007, found the Dermott Special School District issued a duplicate payment of $29,250 to Smith’s nonprofit group, Save Our Kids, using federal Title 1 grant funds and both payments were cashed.”

When asked about the charges Smith was quoted as saying “I am not aware of the charges. ... I don’t know what you are talking about, to be honest with you.” I find that extremely unlikely since he was on trial on November 22 by Circuit Judge Sam Pope, who has yet to hand down a verdict.

Gammon alleges that Smith has lived in Walls, Miss. for the last several years therefore he is not eligible  to serve in the Arkansas legislature.

According to the Arkansas Constitution a  person "convicted of embezzlement  of public money, bribery, forgery or other crime" is not eligible to serve in the state legislature but evidentially the House of Representatives has some discretion in these matters.

If convicted of either I would say the people of Arkansas have some voice in this matter~

The Daily Journal has more on the story here~ http://ow.ly/3wlIF

  

Arkansas’s Historical 2010 Political Year in Review~  

“It was a banner year for political headlines in Arkansas. Retirements of veteran lawmakers, heated and crowded primaries, and some hotly contested general elections turned the state's political establishment on its head.  Several of 2010's storylines are likely to bleed into 2011.”

TalkBusiness.net has become for me a wonderful source of news happening in Arkansas. Here is their assessment of 2010 Top Political News Stories. I encourage you to visit their site frequently and follow them on twitter and facebook.

 

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