State budget chief fired after women complained

Department of Finance and Administration state budget director Brandon Sharp is shown (second from right) along with in this file photo with Tim Leathers, Richard Weiss and John Shelnutt (from left to right).
Department of Finance and Administration state budget director Brandon Sharp is shown (second from right) along with in this file photo with Tim Leathers, Richard Weiss and John Shelnutt (from left to right).

The state's new chief fiscal officer fired state budget administrator Brandon Sharp after complaints about him from other state employees nearly a year after Sharp was warned that his job was in jeopardy, according to Sharp's personnel file released Thursday.

Sharp was warned by his previous boss that he already had "three strikes and there are no more [left]," a letter dated June 9, stated.

Larry Walther, who is the director of the state Department of Finance and Administration, terminated Sharp, effective immediately, Walther said in a letter to Sharp dated May 18.

Walther didn't specify why he fired Sharp in his letter. Tim Leathers, deputy director for the finance department, said he couldn't comment on Sharp's dismissal because it's a personnel matter.

Sharp said Thursday that he wasn't given a reason why he was terminated. He said he was told he was considered to be on probation and there were complaints from other staff members.

Records released by the finance department Thursday included four letters from other workers regarding Sharp's dealings with female employees.

One employee, whose name was redacted, wrote in an undated letter that Sharp came to where she was sitting in the office and started rubbing her shoulders with the remark that "if you tell anyone about this, I will fire you," according to his personnel file.

In the letter, she suggested that Sharp had alcohol in his system at the time; it was 12:45 p.m., she said. The letter doesn't specify the day.

"I did not know that Mr. Sharp had gone drinking with [a redacted name] until Monday. My delay in reporting the incident stems from honestly being scared of losing a job that I enjoy or retaliation against me," the employee wrote.

The employee said the other incident where she felt sexually harassed by Sharp occurred on May 13 when she and her co-workers had gone to a bar; Sharp and a manager showed up and started drinking, too. At the bar, Sharp "made remarks regarding personnel matters between him and [a redacted name] regarding a 'political hire' he was supposed to consider for a budget analyst position," she said.

"He also placed his hand on my knee while talking and then removed it," the employee said.

The other three letters are each dated May 15 -- three days before Sharp's termination.

One employee's letter said that employee and Sharp went to Dugan's Pub for lunch and beers at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate the end of the special project for the governor's office, parting ways at 3 p.m., and that employee was informed on May 15 that Sharp made unwanted advances toward [a redacted name]" and she mentioned "a back rub" as a specific.

Another employee's letter said the employee was at a bar on May 13 and observed Sharp was being affectionate and physically close to a co-worker and "to a lesser degree" another individual. Another employee's letter said Sharp had told co-workers that someone was sleeping with other members of the staff and that Sharp had made similar claims about another manager in the office.

Sharp said in a telephone interview Thursday that he is in Hawaii and hadn't had a chance to read his personnel file.

Informed of the woman's allegations, Sharp said "I never did any of that. Oh my God."

"This is all news to me," Sharp said.

Asked about the incident where this employee felt she was sexually harassed, Sharp disputed it but said he wouldn't respond further until he'd reviewed the file.

Sharp, state budget administrator since July 2011, earned $101,077 per year, according to the state's transparency website. Sharp replaced longtime budget administrator Mike Stormes, who had served in the job since 1989.

Sharp is the son of the Sheila Sharp, director of the state Department of Community Correction.

His termination came as he awaits trial on a charge of boating while intoxicated.

Sharp was arrested June 1, 2014, and released after a $1,000 surety bond was posted, according to court records.

He pleaded innocent June 12. Sharp missed a March 11 court appearance before Judge Ralph Ohm in Garland County District Court and an arrest warrant was issued, court records say. The warrant was recalled April 2.

According to court records, Sharp has two prior convictions. In June 1997, he was found guilty of driving while intoxicated in Little Rock. In October 1999, Sharp was found guilty of a North Little Rock DWI that occurred in March of that year.

Barely a week after the drunk boating arrest, then-finance department director Richard Weiss wrote Sharp about an "incident report from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism."

"Per our conversation, this is the third time with you that I have either discussed personal relationships with agencies or individuals about your actions," Weiss wrote.

"After considering all circumstances, I am making this a formal disciplinary letter to you," Weiss wrote.

"There are three strikes, and there are no more," Weiss's June 9 letter stated.

"I expect your actions from here going forward to reflect your attitude and comportment of a professional administrator within the Department of Finance and Administration," Weiss said.

"This letter of discipline has no time limit and will stay permanent and should another situation come up due to your actions you will be terminated. By your signature of acknowledgement on this letter you will demonstrate you have understood and that from now going forward your actions and work will be up to all professional standard expected from and administration in the Department of Finance and Administration."

After receiving the letter, Sharp signed it and it was filed away.

Metro on 05/29/2015

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