Election division chief tapped for lawyer post

The head of the secretary of state’s election division will now act as the main lawyer for the constitutional office, a spokesman said Monday.

Martha Adcock was moved to the new position Nov. 14.

Adcock has the needed experience to act as the office’s attorney and testify before lawmakers, office spokesman Alex Reed said.

“Going into the next session, we really need to fill a full-time legal counsel role that we haven’t had in the past, and Martha is very well qualified to do that. During the session we’re called quite frequently to testify about bills and Martha’s skill set is in research, and so she can look into that and do well beforethe committees,” he said.

Adcock’s salary was increased to $84,400 with the job change, he said.

Adcock’s personnel file includes no reference to a change in position or responsibility. It shows she was given a raise May 27, which increased her salary to $80,400 from $78,000.

The most recent documents, acknowledgments of an understanding of office policy, are dated June 22.

Before working for the secretary of state, Adcock was an attorney, lobbyist and adviser for the Family Council Action Committee from 1995 to 2010, according to her resume.

She graduated from the W.H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in May 1983,it states.

Assistant Elections Division Director Rob Hammons was named interim director on Nov. 19, Reed said. Hammons has been with the office since 2003 and previously worked for the State Board of Election Commissioners.

The position was posted on the secretary of state’s website on Nov. 16. Reed said no one has applied for the position, which he said will remain posted until it is filled.

The division is responsible for maintaining election records, assisting counties in conducting elections and receiving campaign finance reports, according to the secretary of state’s website.

Adcock had defended the office in court - including on election issues - while serving as director of the elections division.

She acted as lead attorney on several lawsuits, challenging decisions about whether issues would appear on the November general election ballot.

Also acting as attorney for the office have been Deputy Secretary A.J. Kelly and former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson.

Reed said the office may use Hutchinson less as a result of the change. Kelly also oversees the directors of the legal, business and election divisions.

The attorney general’s office is also charged with defending the state in court, but agencies and offices are allowed to hire their own counsel.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 12 on 11/27/2012

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