Charlie Moore, who has held the lone at-large position on the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission for 12 years, has decided to not seek another term, Visit Hot Springs said Tuesday.
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said Moore had told the ad commission he would not be reapplying for his position "several months ago." The commission has received three applications for the position, including Elizabeth Farris, who held the seat prior to Moore's appointment.
A second open position on the commission drew only one applicant -- David Longinotti, who currently holds that position. Longinotti is director of racing at Oaklawn Jockey Club.
Moore, a former financial adviser for Merrill Lynch, had served on the ad commission since August 2005, Leysa Lowery, human resources director of Visit Hot Springs, said Tuesday.
"That was the credit he had for us -- he brought a lot of that financial knowledge," Lowery said. "It was just helpful to have his viewpoint."
Lowery said that, because of his financial knowledge, Moore worked closely with Vicky Ross, the ad commission's chief financial officer. She said Moore also worked on the commission's financial subcommittee, and was helpful in making sure the commission's financial dealings were above reproach.
"We keep everything clean and above board, but it's still nice to have an expert look at everything and say, 'Yeah, you're right. That's right,'" Lowery said, noting Moore set a high bar for whoever will succeed him.
Visit Hot Springs received the three applications for the open position after advertising the position a little more than a month in The Sentinel-Record and on local radio stations, Lowery said. The application deadline was noon Monday.
"It looks like we have some interest in the position, which is good," Arrison said.
The at-large position is the most flexible of all the commissioners, with the applicants only having to meet the requirements of being a registered voter and resident of Hot Springs.
In addition to Farris, the other applicants for the position are Tom French, a retired banker and marketing director who is a lifelong resident of Hot Springs, and Dub Allen, a retired master sergeant of the United States Marine Corps and three-term commission member of the McArthur Museum of Arkansas Military Commission.
Farris, the former city president of Regions Bank -- Southwest Arkansas group, served as the commission's at-large member from 1997 to 2005.
"The at-large position, since I've been here, and going into my 20th year here, has always been filled by someone with a financial-type background," Arrison said.
The three applicants will be voted upon by the commission at its June 26 meeting. Arrison said that all three applicants are "good."
"Whoever the commission picks, we look forward to working with them," he said.
Arrison said he is pleased to have had Moore on the commission, and Moore is pleased to have served for 12 years.
"He was a great force on the commission," Arrison said. "I really enjoyed working with him, for him."
Local on 06/14/2017