Gov. Asa Hutchinson last week doubled Northwest Arkansas' representation on the state Highway Commission.
Two of the five commissioners will hail from either Benton or Washington County.
That hasn't happened in the commission's history, at least not in the Mack-Blackwell era.
That's the nickname for Amendment 42, which reduced the commission to five members more than a half-century ago. The 1952 amendment also provided for staggered 10-years terms for members of the powerful commission that oversees the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
Hutchinson, a Northwest Arkansas native, last week named longtime friend Philip Taldo of Springdale to the commission, which is chaired now by Dick Trammel of Rogers.
Taldo, a local real estate broker and developer, won't be sworn in until the middle of next month, replacing Frank Scott when he rotates off the panel.
Scott is one of two Little Rock men now on the commission. He is technically its "at large" member. Taldo, too, will have responsibility to the whole state.
Each of the remaining members represent one of the state's four congressional districts, as state law has required since 1979.
Tom Schueck is the other member from Little Rock (2nd District). The remaining members are Alec Farmer of Jonesboro (1st), Trammel (3rd) and Robert Moore Jr. of Arkansas City (4th).
Arguably, Taldo and Trammel could give Northwest Arkansas double impact on the commission.
The truth is, a lot more than geography plays into highway-related decisions, but it certainly can't hurt to have two voices from this region.
At least Trammel and Taldo will serve together for a few years.
Trammel's tenure is scheduled to end in January 2019, while Taldo's will extend until January 2027.
Farmer was Hutchinson's first appointment to the commission in 2015. Former Gov. Mike Beebe named all of the rest.
Highway commissioner is one of the plum appointments available to a governor and Arkansas chief executives tend to choose people close to them for these posts.
"Few understand my vision for the state, from an economic development standpoint and beyond, better than my friend, Philip," Hutchinson said Wednesday when he made the announcement to Springdale Rotarians.
Hutchinson named Taldo to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission last year and said he has served well there.
"Our economy and our highways go hand-in-hand, and I have no doubt he will bring his experience and continue to provide the same thoughtful insight to this new role and responsibility," said Hutchinson, whose relationship with Taldo goes back to their high school football days in Springdale.
"Philip is on there because I know him. I trust him," Hutchinson said. "He understands growth and how important that is to me."
An unbroken string of appointees from either Benton or Washington counties have served in the 3rd District slot since 1979, when then-Gov. Bill Clinton named F.H. Martin of Fayetteville as his first appointee to the Highway Commission.
Martin resigned for business reasons a few years into his term. Clinton named Bobby Hopper of Springdale to replace Martin in 1983, then reappointed Hopper to a full 10-year term in 1989.
Similarly close relationships between the governors and their appointees also led former Gov. Mike Huckabee to put Jonathan Barnett of Siloam Springs on the commission in 1999 and for Beebe to pick Trammel 10 years later.
It has been a good, long run for Northwest Arkansas, especially since the 3rd District's seat went exclusively to men from Fort Smith, Clarksville and Lavaca in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Leaders from this corner of the district regularly complained back then that interests here weren't represented, just as people in Fort Smith and points south must do now.
So, enjoy having two members of the commission until its time for the next 3rd District representative to be chosen.
Chances are Gov. Hutchinson will be hard pressed not to give that appointment to someone from Fort Smith or thereabouts.
Remember, he has strong loyalties to that region, too.
Ten years from now, another governor will decide who the next "at large" member will be to replace Taldo.
Then, Northwest Arkansas will have to compete with all of the state for that appointment -- with an all-too-real prospect that this corner could find itself with no one on the commission.
Commentary on 12/25/2016