Gov. Asa Hutchinson has appointed a former Democratic state lawmaker, Tracy Steele of North Little Rock, as director of the Arkansas Health Services Permit Agency, Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis said Tuesday.
Hutchinson appointed Steele to the post -- held by former Democratic state Sen. Jim Luker of Wynne for the past two years -- because Steele has prior experience running a state agency, has worked with multiple governors, and the governor thought he would be "a good fit in this role," Davis said.
The Health Services Permit Agency -- with direction from a nine-member Health Services Permit Commission -- is responsible for issuing permits of approval for nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted-living facilities, home health and hospice agencies, psychiatric residential care facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the mentally disabled, according to its website. Luker is paid $105,939 a year as its director.
Steele has been serving as a legislative liaison for Hutchinson during the first several weeks of this year's session.
He was director of the state's Division of Youth Services from August 2013 to October and executive director for the state's Martin Luther King Jr. Commission from 1994-2006, where he survived three attempts to oust him from the job under Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee's administration. He was an aide to former Democratic Govs. Bill Clinton and Jim Guy Tucker.
Steele served in the state House of Representatives from 1999-2003 and in the state Senate from 2003-11 before serving in the House again from 2011-13. In 2012, he was beaten in a runoff for North Little Rock mayor by current Mayor Joe Smith.
A few days before November's general election, Steele said he was supporting Hutchinson over former Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Ross because Hutchinson "would be the best leader of the state."
At that time, Steele said he might at some point like to return to working for state government, but he was a consultant and he would announce his plans after Jan. 1.
Steele could not be reached for comment by telephone Tuesday afternoon.
Steele also has served as chief executive officer of the STAND Foundation, short for "Strive Toward A New Direction," a leadership and job-training program in North Little Rock.
Luker said Tuesday that he was informed Thursday that he would be replaced as director of the Arkansas Health Services Permit Agency, but he wasn't sure who his successor would be.
"They knew I didn't intend to stay much longer, [so] it wasn't any great surprise," he said.
Luker, a 72-year-old attorney, said he intends to maintain his law license but plans largely to fish and spend time with his grandchildren after he departs the agency in two weeks. He served in the House from 1995-2001 and the Senate from 2001-13.
Metro on 02/18/2015