State Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, said Thursday that he objects to Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe appointing a retired nurse from Conway to the state’s Occupational Therapy Examining Committee because he’s “just not comfortable with that appointment.”
Rapert said Beebe’s director of appointments to boards and commissions, Mica Strother, apologized to him Wednesday for another staff member’s mistake that led Beebe to announce Monday the appointment of Kathryn Spinks to the six-member committee, even though Rapert had objected to the proposed appointment several weeks ago.
Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said Spinks’ appointment was announced Monday, but she wasn’t sworn in so she is not a committee member.
“We had a staffer in that section that misread a note and thought that Rapert had said, ‘OK [to Spinks’ appointment],’ when in fact Rapert was saying OK he understands that we are going to tell [Spinks] that he refused to confirm her,” Beebe explained.
Beebe declined to say which of his staff members made the mistake.
“Ultimately, it is my responsibility,” he said.
DeCample said that since 2007, when Beebe became governor, only one other senator has objected to the appointment of a constituent from his own senatorial district to a state board or commission.
In 2011, then-state Sen. Sue Madison, D-Fayetteville, objected to Beebe’s proposed appointment of former Attorney General Steve Clark’s wife, Suzanne Clark, to the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.
A state senator is generally allowed to essentially veto gubernatorial appointments if the nominee is from that senator’s district. In the past, when a governor has ignored a senator’s veto, the Senate has intervened.
In 2003, the Senate rejected Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee’s appointment of Bill Ackerman of Fayetteville to the Game and Fish Commission, after Madison raised an objection. Madison had narrowly defeated Ackerman’s wife in the 2002 election. Bill Ackerman served for a time on the commission but eventually resigned.
Beebe referred questions about why Rapert objected to Spinks’ appointment to Rapert.
Rapert repeatedly declined to specify why he is uncomfortable with Spinks’ appointment.
“My prerogative,” he said.
“I said, ‘No.’ That’s it,” he said.
When pressed again, Rapert replied, “I’m done.”
Spinks said she doesn’t know Rapert and has “no clue” why he opposes her appointment.
The Occupational Therapy Examining Committee oversees the certification of occupational therapists. Spinks is 60 and a retired advanced practice nurse with 30 years of experience.
Spinks said she learned Wednesday from the governor’s staff that Rapert objected to her appointment.
“If Jason Rapert had done the right thing and confirmed my appointment, I would still have had to face approval from the state Senate the next time they convened in order for me to be truly appointed to the Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee,” she wrote in a letter addressed to “Dear All” that she posted on Facebook.
Spinks said she is secretary of the Faulker County Democratic Committee. She declined to say whether she has been publicly critical of Rapert or worked on the campaign of Rapert’s opponent in the 2012 election, former state Rep. Linda Tyler, D-Conway.
Tyler said Spinks is a good friend and supporter who was a volunteer in her Senate campaign in 2012.
But, she said, she doesn’t know why Rapert wouldn’t affirm Spinks’ appointment, adding that it’s unfortunate that he won’t back the appointment of a someone with Spinks’ credentials.
Tyler said she is considering challenging Rapert for his Senate seat or running for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by Republican Tim Griffin next year. She said she expects to decide by the end of this summer.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 06/28/2013