Attorney Tony Juneau of Rogers is the newest member of the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, appointed Juneau to the five-member commission to replace Anna Bray of Benton, according to a letter dated March 24 and released Friday by Gillam's office.
Juneau's term on the commission expires Dec. 31, 2020.
He said Friday in an interview that serving on the commission "will be a good way to serve the state."
Juneau said he would objectively review ethics complaints and make the "best and fair ruling" on each complaint.
He has worked as a litigation attorney for Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. since August 2004, according to his resume.
Juneau received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 2001 and his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2004.
The other four commissioners are William C. Bird III of North Little Rock, Robert McCormack of Conway, Sharon Trusty of Russellville and Sybil Hampton of Little Rock.
Bird told his colleagues that he attended law school with Juneau, who was not able to attend Friday's commission meeting, and "he is very well thought of."
"He's at Mitchell Williams and we know that Mitchell Williams hires good lawyers, so he is a sharp guy and he'll be very, very good [to have on the commission]," Bird said.
Commission Director Graham Sloan told the commission that Juneau "had a previous commitment at the time he became appointed" and apologized for not being able to attend Friday's meeting.
The ethics commission was established in 1991 to enforce ethics laws and deal with questions about conflicts of interest, lobbying, campaigning, campaign-finance and ballot issues. The commission's members are appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, House speaker and Senate president pro tempore.
Former Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Darr appointed Bird to the commission. Former Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe appointed McCormack. Former Senate President Pro Tempore Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, appointed Trusty. Former Democratic Attorney General Dustin McDaniel appointed Hampton.
Metro on 04/18/2015