State Rep. Sen. Irma Hunter Brown asked the attorney general for an opinion tailored on behalf of Bill Walker, a paid member of the state parole board, who has announced as a candidate for Little Rock mayor. The response came today.
Under Arkansas law, can an individual who currently holds a salaried position with a definite term on an Arkansas state commission run for non-partisan municipal office, specifically for mayor of a city of the first class?
RESPONSE: In my opinion, generally, the dual service of an individual on a state commission and as mayor of a city of the first class would likely be authorized under state law as long as no specific statute applies to the particular state commission position so as to prevent such service, and as long as the particular state commission position is not incompatible with that of mayor. I cannot definitively decide the issue, however, without knowing precisely what state commission position is involved.