Heather McKim showed up to work Thursday to see about a raise. She left with a promotion and an even bigger paycheck.
The recently hired deputy director of the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners is now the interim director. The board monitors, educates and assists state and local officials in conducting elections.
McKim, a former Bryant city clerk and a past Republican Party of Arkansas finance director, was slotted to earn $41,159 a year at the start of Thursday's meeting of commissioners.
Tasked with many of the duties of the former director, Justin Clay, commissioners first voted to give McKim a raise to $55,490, which is the highest level she could receive, absent approval of Arkansas lawmakers. McKim's predecessor as deputy director, Gaye Swaim, was earning $72,411 when she left, the maximum for that position.
Shortly after boosting McKim's salary, Commissioner Chad Pekron motioned that she should instead assume the role of interim director and be paid the same as Clay was when he left, $73,151 a year.
With Clay's departure at the end of June and an ongoing state hiring freeze, commissioners agreed it was unclear how soon they would get the approval from the Department of Finance and Administration to fill his post.
"My concern is we don't have anyone with the title," Pekron said at the meeting via telephone. "It's only interim. ... In no way is it intended for the permanent director's position."
Commissioner Rhonda Cole, also participating by telephone, said she was concerned that the commissioners were "jumping to conclusions" about how to handle Clay's absence. Another commissioner suggested putting off a vote until all members could meet in person.
"Was she aware this would happen?" Cole asked.
"This is the first I'm hearing of it," McKim said while seated in the board's conference room. "I'd certainly be willing to do that."
"How many days have you been working there?" Cole asked.
"I started Monday," McKim said.
"It seems a little quick to me," Cole said.
Pekron stressed that the role was temporary and he would expect the board would have an open hiring process once it receives authority to replace Clay.
With a 3-3 deadlock vote, A.J. Kelly, an attorney sitting in for his boss, Secretary of State Mark Martin, broke the tie with a yes vote.
The board is chaired by Martin's office and has two appointees from the governor, one appointee each from the Democratic and Republican parties, one from the Senate president pro tempore and one from the House speaker.
McKim also worked for the state Senate, the Division of Legislative Audit and for then-Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller.
Asked if she was prepared to run the state agency, McKim said she has a lot of work ahead of her but she feels ready.
"I'm excited for the opportunity," she said, adding she wouldn't have accepted the job if she didn't feel she was prepared to do it.
McKim said she will run the office fairly.
"I've served over the years in neutral roles," she said. "I've been in those roles and know how important it is. And I just believe in a fair system. That's what I want to ensure, a fair system. It's not about which party you're with."
Information for this article was contributed by Michael R. Wickline of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Metro on 07/15/2016