BENTONVILLE -- Harlan Stee, a retired truck driver from Bella Vista, has been named to the Benton County Election Commission.
Stee, 71, was chosen to serve out the unexpired term of Mike Sevak, who resigned from the commission May 29.
Stee was chosen by the Benton County Republican Party Committee at a meeting Monday night, according to Betsy Harrell, chief deputy county clerk. Harrell said Damon Wallace was also nominated for the position, and the committee chose Stee in a secret ballot.
Stee, who has lived in Bella Vista for 25 years, said he has served as a poll worker in Benton County elections since 2012. His wife, Ann, has been a precinct sheriff during that same time.
"I've been elbow-deep in it," Stee said.
Stee said he was interested in serving on the commission, based on his past work in elections, but he understands the job will be different, and he has much to learn.
"I don't think I'll know how much until I get into it," he said.
Russ Anzalone, also a Republican Party representative and commission chairman, said Stee is coming on board at a good time. The county has a pair of special elections in August -- one in Siloam Springs and one in Rogers -- that will allow Stee to learn before the November general election.
"I know when I came on the commission, I was lost at first," Anzalone said. "I voted, but I was learning all the time. It's a giant step. He'll be dealing with all the laws and regulations pertaining to elections instead of dealing directly with voters and election equipment."
Under Arkansas law, each election commission is made up of representatives from the two major political parties. The party holding a majority of the state's seven constitutional offices selects the third member. Commissions oversee the elections in each of the state's 75 counties, including setting election dates and approving polling places. In Benton County, commissioners are paid $125 per meeting.
Robbyn Tumey, the Democratic Party representative on the commission, said it's important to have a full commission, and she hopes Stee will be able to serve beyond this current term, which ends Jan. 31.
"I've always said when we walk in there there's nothing political in what we do. We're not Republicans or Democrats," she said. "It's your job to make sure the votes are counted and people have their opportunity to vote. Things go smoother if we have some continuity."
NW News on 06/27/2018