LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners selected Deputy Director Karen Skarda to serve as its interim director Monday.
Director Susie Stormes has announced she will retire Dec. 31, after working at the commission for 17 years. She became director in 2000.
Skarda has been with the board for at least four years, board attorney Tim Humphries said.
Her salary as deputy director is $58,143.49. Humphries said it would increase, but he did not know by how much.
Stormes’ salary is $83,637.
Humphries said the director position will be advertised, but there is no timeline for filling the job.
The board, created in 1969, is responsible for training election officials and monitoring compliance with election laws.
The seven-member board consists of the secretary of state, two members appointed by the governor, one member each appointed by the chairman of the Democratic and Republican parties, one chosen by the president pro tempore of the senate and one picked by the House speaker.
Rep. Bryan King, R-Berryville, has said he plans to carry legislation changing the makeup of the board and its staff when he returns as a senator in the 2013 session.
King has accused board employees of ignoring problems and complaints about the state’s elections, most recently for not acting quickly in response to allegations of voter fraud in 2011.
On Sept. 5, Rep. Hudson Hallum of Marion and three other men pleaded guilty in federal court to bribing absentee voters in exchange for their votes in 2011 — a primary on April 20, a runoff on May 10 and a special general election for an empty seat on July 12. Hallum has since resigned.
Despite hearing allegations days after the election, the board didn’t investigate. Staff members said after Hallum’s conviction that the board didn’t investigate because Arkansas State Police officials were investigating.
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 12/19/2012