The Central Arkansas Water Board of Commissioners selected a University of Central Arkansas attorney Wednesday to fill the vacant seat on the board.
Kandi Hughes, associate general counsel and compliance officer at UCA, competed against three other finalists for the spot.
"She has great a background, a real passion for serving her community and real desire to do the complex work that the board is required to do," Chairman Roby Robertson said.
Hughes, a native of Little Rock, was previously an assistant city attorney for Little Rock.
"I truly believe service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth," Hughes wrote in her cover letter submitted to the board.
Hughes, a former member of the Arkansas Foodbank's board, is on track to obtain a master's degree in business administration from UCA next year. She received a law degree from UALR in 2009 and a bachelor's degree in public policy studies with a certification in healthy policy from Duke University in 2005
The other three finalists were: Khayyam Eddings, a partner at the Friday, Eldredge & Clark law firm; Cleveland Jones, a retiree with experience in business development management; and Markita Tyler, a controller at a company in Pine Bluff.
The seat was left vacant by Marie-Bernarde Miller, who had served on the board since 2011.
The board's recommendation to appoint Hughes will now go to the Little Rock Board of Directors for approval before it becomes final.
Hughes will finish out Miller's term from July through June 30, 2022. Each commissioner serves a seven-year term and can be reappointed by the board.
The board is made up of seven members, four from Little Rock and three from North Little Rock. It has governing authority to manage, operate, improve, extend and maintain the water works and distribution system. The board also has complete charge of the system's water plan.
Central Arkansas Water is the largest water supplier in the state, serving the Little Rock-North Little Rock metropolitan area. It provides water to about 400,000 people.
Metro on 06/09/2016