Randy Massanelli, state director for Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, will be the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s vice chancellor for governmental relations, the Chancellor G. David Gearhart said Monday.

Starting July 1, Massanelli will be paid a salary of $175,000 a year and assume the lobbying job held by Richard Hudson, who is paid $202,000 a year and is retiring effective July 31, UA Fayetteville officials said.

Gearhart selected Massanelli over Senate Education Committee Chairman Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, who decided not to run for re-election this year after applying for the job; and Mac Campbell, a former deputy staff director for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee who was an aide to former Democratic U.S.Sen. Blanche Lincoln and ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer in 2006.

Thirty-three people applied for the job; five of them interviewed with the search committee, and three were selected as finalists.

The vice chancellor for government relations works with state and federal lawmakers and civic organizations and coordinates the university’s activities with local, state and national government.

Gearhart said in a news release that Massanelli has a strong track record of accomplishment working with all levels of government and both major political parties.

Massanelli’s experience with Arkansas politics “will help us not only continue but deepen our relationships with our state lawmakers,” Gearhart said.

Gearhart said he wanted to find someone who could foster good relationships with elected officials and build support for the university’s priorities.

All three finalists had incredible credentials and were qualified, Gearhart said.

“It was a close race, and at the end of the day, Randy edged out the others with his federal government experience,” Gearhart said. “Richard’s are big shoes to fill, and I’m confident Randy will ensure a smooth transition.”

State Sen. Jonathan Dismang of Searcy, who is the Republican whip and is in line to lead the Senate in 2015-16, said he hoped UA would hire someone with good relationships with state lawmakers.

“I felt like Johnny was a good fit because of his relationships,” Dismang said. “I am a bit curious on the direction they decided to go.”

Gearhart and some UA officials had drawn criticism from state lawmakers over a Division of Legislative Audit report into a multimillion-dollar deficit in the university’s Advancement Division.

Asked to explain why the university hired Massanelli over Key, Laura Jacobs - associate vice chancellor for university relations - replied in an email that the search committee advanced three outstanding candidates and “at the end of the day, Mr. Massanelli’s federal government experience won the chancellor’s confidence that he’d be able to foster good relations with our elected officials at all levels.”

Massanelli has been state director for Pryor’s U.S.Senate office since 2003. He served as Pryor’s campaign manager in 2001-02 and was director of operations for the Arkansas attorney general’s office when Pryor held the post. Pryor’s father, former U.S. Sen. and Gov. David Pryor, serves on the UA board of trustees.

Key could not be reached for comment by telephone Monday afternoon.

He has served in the state Senate since 2009 and in the state House of Representatives from 2003-2009.

Key sold his family’s preschool business last year, and he said he hadn’t been assured that he would get the Fayetteville job when he decided not to seek re-election in February. At that time, UA Trustee John Goodson of Texarkana paid a visit to the state Senate and said he wasn’t leading a campaign to get Key hired at UA.

In late February, Key said he wasn’t gambling that he’d get the job.

“There is life beyond the General Assembly,” he said, adding that he and his wife are ready to embark on it.

If he was hired at UA, Key had said he wouldn’t spend more than $400 on lobbying in a quarter, so he wouldn’t be required under state law to register as a lobbyist and, thus, he wouldn’t run the risk of violating Act 48 of 2011 that requires a one-year cooling-off period between the end of a lawmaker’s term and his registration as a lobbyist.

Massanelli won’t be subject to federal lobbying restrictions while he works for UA because he’ll be working on behalf of an institution of higher education, said Steve Voorhies, manager of media relations for the university.

Campbell, the third finalist, said Monday in an email that “Randy is a hard worker and a great guy. I know he will do a fine job for the U of A.”

Arkansas, Pages 9 on 05/06/2014