Mark Darr

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Mark Darr
15th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
In office
January 11, 2011 – February 1, 2014
Governor Mike Beebe
Preceded by Bill Halter
Succeeded by vacant
Personal details
Born (1973-07-03) July 3, 1973
Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kim Darr
Children Madison
Cooper
Alma mater Ouachita Baptist University
Religion Southern Baptist

Mark A. Darr (born July 3, 1973) was the 15th Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas. A member of the Republican Party, Darr was elected to succeed Democrat Bill Halter in 2010, having defeated Democratic challenger State Senator and former House Speaker Shane Broadway by a margin of 51 to 49 percent.[1] Under sanction for ethics violations involving illegal use of campaign funds, Darr resigned as lieutenant governor on February 1, 2014. [2]

Early life and career

Darr was born in 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He is a graduate of Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Arkansas, and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Political career

Darr was elected Lieutenant Governor on November 2, 2010. He is the youngest Republican to win a statewide race in Arkansas.[3] Prior to the election, he had never run for public office. On November 2, 2010, in the closest constitutional race, Darr defeated state senator (and former Arkansas House Speaker) Shane Broadway. Darr campaigned wrongly promising that he could, as lieutenant governor, file suit against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which in fact would be the sole prerogative of the attorney general, Democrat Dustin McDaniel.

On August 12, 2013, Darr announced his candidacy for Arkansas's 4th congressional district.[4] He ended his candidacy after questions were raised about campaign expenditures during his 2010 campaign for lieutenant governor.[5] On August 29, 2013, Darr ended his campaign for Congress.[6]

Scandal and resignation

In late November 2013, questions of ethics violations arose after Darr reportedly filed incorrect and misleading campaign financial statements.[7] While he maintained innocence, state Democrats and fellow Republicans vowed impeachment if Darr did not step down. An ethics commission accused Darr of breaking Arkansas Code 11 times and for using approximately $31,572.74 from his campaign funds for personal expenses. On December 30, 2013 the lieutenant governor signed a letter stating he would pay the state's $11,000 Ethics Commission fine but still maintained the mistakes were unintentional. Darr announced on January 10, 2014 that he will resign from his office effectively February 1, 2014. [8]

In the process of resigning, Darr failed to notify the Governor- Democrat Mike Beebe- who is the only Constitutional Officer able to declare the office vacant. Darr forwarded copies to the Republican elected state officials- none of which needed or were entitled to the notice. He has also failed to pay the $11,00 Ethics Commission Fine. [9]

Family life

Darr and his wife Kim have two children, Madison and Cooper. Darr is a licensed insurance agent and also co-owns two restaurants in Rogers, Arkansas. Kim is a elementary school music teacher at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, where they reside. They are members of megachurch (Southern Baptist) Cross Church [10] (formerly known as First Baptist Church of Springdale) in Springdale and are active in the choir.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "For incoming No. 2, politics new territory GOP’s Darr eager to start state work". Arkansas Online. November 14, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010. 
  2. ↑ http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/it-was-a-bad-week-for-mark-darr-again/Content?oid=3199197
  3. ↑ "Lieutenant Governor Mark A. Darr". Arkansas Lieutenant Governors Office. 
  4. ↑ "Mark Darr announces for 4th District Congress". Arkansas Times. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Mark Darr Has A Problem With His CC&E Reports". Blue Hog Report. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Darr Canceling Congressional Bid". Talk Business. Retrieved September 2, 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Mark, Darr, Arkansas lt. gov., says he'll resign over ethics case". Politico. Retrieved January 10, 2014. 
  8. ↑ "BREAKING: Lt. Governor Mark Darr Resigning". KNWA. Retrieved January 10, 2014. 
  9. ↑ http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/it-was-a-bad-week-for-mark-darr-again/Content?oid=3199197
  10. ↑ http://crosschurch.com/partnerships/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark Darr.


Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Halter		 Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
2011–2014 		Incumbent

Template:Former U.S. Lieutenant Governors Template:Former Arkansas statewide political officials

Members of the Arkansas State Senate
   
  1.    Bart Hester (R)
  2.    Jim Hendren (R)
  3.    Cecile Bledsoe (R)
  4.    Uvalde Lindsey (D)
  5.    Bryan King (R)
  6.    Gary Stubblefield (R)
  7.    Jon Woods (R)
  8.    Jake Files (R)
  9.    Bruce Holland (R)
  1.    Larry Teague (D)
  2.    Jimmy Hickey, Jr. (R)
  3.    Bruce Maloch (D)
  4.    Alan Clark (R)
  5.    Bill Sample (R)
  6.    David J. Sanders (R)
  7.    Michael Lamoureux (R)
  8.    Johnny Key (R)
  9.    Missy Irvin (R)
  1.    David Wyatt (D)
  2.    Robert F. Thompson (D)
  3.    John Cooper (R)
  4.    David Burnett (D)
  5.    Ron Caldwell (R)
  6.    Keith Ingram (D)
  7.    Stephanie Flowers (D)
  8.    Eddie Cheatham (D)
  9.    Bobby J. Pierce (D)
  1.    Jonathan Dismang (R)
  2.    Eddie Joe Williams (R)
  3.    Linda Chesterfield (D)
  4.    Joyce Elliott (D)
  5.    David Johnson (D)
  6.    Jeremy Hutchinson (R)
  7.    Jane English (R)
  8.    Jason Rapert (R)
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