The county's political party committees decide who handles the day-to-day administration of elections in Garland County, but the election coordinator position the Garland County Quorum Court Human Resources Committee created earlier this week would move election management under the county judge's line of authority.
The three commissioners the county's Republican and Democratic Party committees appoint to the Garland County Election Commission would still be responsible for ensuring elections are conducted according to the law, certifying vote totals and other responsibilities assigned to it by the state election code, but the coordinator would run elections.
The quorum court Finance Committee's agenda Monday night includes an ordinance to fund the $36,000 salary the Human Resources Committee established for the position. The coordinator would be the election commission's only full-time employee. Poll workers are part-time, hourly workers, and the county pays commissioners a per diem for the days they work.
Gene Haley has been the county's de facto election administrator since becoming chairman of the county election commission in 2015. The Garland County Republican Party Committee reelected him to a fourth term on the commission earlier this month. Ralph Edds was reelected to a third term on the county election board.
The party that controls the majority of the state's seven constitutional offices also holds two out of the three seats on county election boards. Republicans have controlled all seven offices since January 2015.
"I believe the chances of us getting a quality person will be better in the future should something happen to Gene," County Judge Darryl Mahoney told the Human Resources Committee. "Gene is as good as it gets. He's great. In the future, if Gene retires, the chances of us getting a good, quality person who has knowledge of the election would be better than trying to take someone who was appointed by a political party.
" ... If we establish this position, we'll still have our commissioners, but they'll be used a little differently. The election coordinator provides everything, and the commissioners will review that and make sure it's right. It will be a little more structured. Now, and in the future, it gives us an opportunity to hire an experienced, knowledgeable person for that position, so we don't wind up with whomever is appointed by a political party."
Mahoney said an election commissioner can also serve as election coordinator. Haley said Friday he has applied for the job, explaining that if he's hired, he and other commissioners can handle day-to-day election tasks without running afoul of the state notification law for public meetings.
Two hours notice is required for meetings that aren't regularly scheduled.
"We've always operated as a working commission," Haley said. "Technically that's not legal under (Arkansas Freedom of Information Act) rules, because any time two of us are there together that's considered a meeting. Because I'm doing all the work anyway, we're structuring it to where I can do that. Everything is still subject to election commission approval, but I can actually do the work."
"We've evidently been operating incorrectly all these years. There really is no such thing as a working commission."
Haley told the Human Resources Committee the election commission would continue to have the ultimate say on how county elections are run.
"This does not absolve the election commission of their duties," he said. "They're still in charge of elections. The county judge cannot change that. The election coordinator cannot change that. The election commission is responsible for elections. Period."
Haley said the county's Democratic Party committee elected Kay Ekey to the election commission earlier this week. The veteran poll worker was appointed last year to serve the remainder of Elmer Beard's term after Beard retired.
Haley said the 2021-22 commission will meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. to elect a chairperson. It will also discuss the May 18 annual school elections. Ten positions on the county's seven school boards are up for election. The filing period for candidates runs from Feb. 22 to March 1.