The state House of Representatives’ chief of staff, Robert Dale, is retiring at the end of December, Dale said Tuesday.
Dale, who has been the House chief of staff since January 2015, said he “never thought about” House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, serving four years as House speaker when he initially agreed in 2014 to serve as House chief of staff.
“I had to talk my wife into letting me do it for two years, and it’s time for me to go home and do some of the things that she wants to do,” said Dale, who served in the House from 2009-15 as a Republican from Dover.
Dale, a 70-year-old former banker, is paid $119,999 a year as the House chief of staff. In 2015, he replaced Chief of Staff Gabe Holmstrom, who served under House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot.
Gillam said his inclination is for Dale’s replacement to be House Deputy Chief of Staff Roy Ragland. Ragland is paid $98,000 a year.
“I’m like 99 percent sure that’s what I will do, so Roy will become the chief of staff and then I’ll make the appropriate changes and fill the slots,” he said. “I need a chance to visit with everybody.”
Gillam said through a House spokesman that he has no plan at this time to increase Ragland’s salary.
Ragland, 59, served in the House from 2005-11 as a Republican from Marshall. He worked in governmental relations for Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin from 2011-12 and then joined the House in December 2012 as director of member services.
In the 2012 general election, Republicans narrowly won control of the House from Democrats for the first time in 138 years. Newly elected representatives ousted Rep. Darrin Williams, D-Little Rock, as the House speaker-designate and selected Carter to serve as speaker in 2013-14. Carter then hired Ragland and Holmstrom in December 2012.
The Republicans have increased their ranks in the House in the 2014 and 2016 general elections. The House will comprise 75 Republicans and 25 Democrats starting Jan. 9.
Dale said he’s had “a great time” as chief of staff.
“I’ve really enjoyed the speaker. I think he has a future if he decides to pursue that in public service,” Dale said.
Gillam, who has served in the House since 2011 and was re-elected to a two-year term in the Nov. 8 general election, has said he’s considering running for secretary of state in 2018. State Auditor Andrea Lea, a Republican, has said she is considering running for the post, too.
In June, Land Commissioner John Thurston, a Republican, announced his bid for secretary of state. Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin is barred from running for re-election in 2018 under the state’s term-limits amendment.