An Arkansas lawmaker whose elected successor is dead says he’ll leave office in January so the governor can call a special election to fill his seat.
State Rep. Rick Saunders said Tuesday that he’ll resign in January before the legislative session begins, even though the attorney general says he could stay in office until the 2012 election. Saunders said he wants to honor the state’s term limits and allow a new representative to replace him.
Keith Crass, the Republican nominee for Saunders’ seat, died while early voting was underway but won the state House seat in the Nov. 2 election. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said last week that Gov. Mike Beebe could not call a special election to fill the seat until the office was legally vacated.
"I respect Rep. Saunders' decision and agree with him that it is the best course of action for the citizens of House District 24. This will allow Rick to complete his third term, preserve the spirit of the term-limits amendment passed by Arkansas voters, and allow us to begin the process of filling the vacancy," Beebe said.
Once Beebe receives written confirmation of Saunders' resignation, Beebe will certify the vacancy to the chairmen of the state's political parties. The parties will then have 10 days to notify the governor whether they want primaries or conventions to choose their respective party nominees. Once word is received from the parties, Beebe will set the earliest dates allowed by law for the District 24 special election.