Arkansas State University System officials interviewed state Department of Higher Education Director Shane Broadway for an opening Monday -- three days after Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson said he'd asked Broadway to stay in his current job.
ASU System officials also interviewed Accelerate Arkansas Executive Director Charisse Childers of Little Rock on Monday for the vice president for university relations job, ASU System spokesman Jeff Hankins said.
Seven people applied for the post, which was advertised on the ASU jobs website between Nov. 10 and Nov. 26, Hankins added.
ASU Vice President for University Relations Robert Evans is retiring Dec. 31.
Hankins said Wednesday that system officials haven't made a job offer yet and that "further interviews may be conducted until the position is filled."
"We anticipate it will be filled by Jan. 1," he said.
Asked why the position wasn't advertised in a statewide or national publication and for a longer period of time, Hankins said that "we didn't believe the expense was necessary."
ASU System President Chuck Welch "wanted to focus on candidates experienced with the Arkansas General Assembly. When positions such as these are vacated, it is quickly known within the governmental relations community. Dr. Welch was getting calls of interest within hours of Robert's retirement announcement. There was no need to spend extra money when a number of qualified individuals expressed interest so quickly," Hankins said.
The salary for the position will be "commensurate with experience," according to the job listing. The state's budget manual shows that Evans was paid $187,286 in the past fiscal year, according to the Bureau of Legislative Research.
As director of the state Department of Higher Education, Broadway's salary is $168,128 a year, according to the state's transparency website. He has worked at the department since January 2011 and headed the department as either its interim director or permanent director since February 2011. He served as a Democrat from Bryant in the state House of Representatives from 1997-03 and state Senate from 2003-11, and lost a bid for lieutenant governor to Springdale Republican Mark Darr in November 2010.
Broadway listed Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe; House Speaker-designate Jerry Gillam, R-Judsonia; and state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Little Rock, a nephew of the governor-elect, as his references.
Asa Hutchinson, a Republican from Rogers, said Friday that, "I know he has opportunities in his life. But if he would like to stay as head of higher education, I hope he would do that."
Broadway said Wednesday that "no offer has been extended" by ASU and he's still considering staying as the department's director.
"All options are being considered. I am very blessed that I have been approached with several opportunities both in and out of state government and in and out of the state of Arkansas," he said.
Broadway said he would be barred from registering as a lobbyist under state law for a year if he gets the ASU job. Childers' salary for the nonprofit Accelerate Arkansas economic development and education group isn't listed on her application. She could not be reached for comment by telephone Wednesday. She is the wife of former state Rep. Marvin Childers, R-Blytheville, who is the president for the Poultry Federation, a trade association representing the poultry and egg industry in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
The other applicants include Kandi Grandberry of Jonesboro, who has worked for Dillard's and Bed, Bath and Beyond; Shawn Smith of Little Rock, who works in the state treasurer's office; Leslie Doan of Little Rock, who has worked for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Jillian Hicks of Little Rock, who has worked for Beebe since October 2013 and from 2010-July 2011; and Raymond Bratschi of Jackson, Tenn., an assistant professor of business at Lane College, according to ASU System records.
In May, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville hired Randy Massanelli, then the state director for Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, to be UA-Fayetteville's vice chancellor for governmental relations, starting in July at an annual salary of $175,000. He replaced Richard Hudson, who was earning $202,000 per year when he retired in July.
More than 30 people had applied for the job, including then-state Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home. The UA System subsequently hired Key as its associate vice president for university relations, paying him $130,000 a year.
Metro on 12/11/2014