Another high-ranking staff member is leaving the governor's office.
Jon Gilmore, deputy chief of staff, will soon leave for the private sector, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday.
The announcement comes about six weeks after Hutchinson's chief of staff, Michael Lamoureux, announced he was leaving. Lamoureux, a former Republican state senator, was replaced by another Hutchinson staff member, Alison Williams, in late May.
Gilmore worked as a political consultant in Arkansas prior to running Hutchinson's successful 2014 gubernatorial bid.
Gilmore will start a political consulting firm, he said Monday. Gilmore said that although he will be out of the governor's office by early July, he will still "engage" with the governor on political matters and will act as an external adviser.
"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Governor Hutchinson's Deputy Chief of Staff and to play a part in his administration," Gilmore wrote in a statement. "The Governor's trust is humbling, and I appreciate the mentorship and friendship he has provided to me and continues to provide."
Gilmore makes $105,520 a year as deputy chief of staff.
Reached by phone Monday, Gilmore said he had a "natural" interest in Lamoureux's position but that Hutchinson's decision to replace Lamoureux with Williams had no bearing on his own choice to leave.
"I think I was happy in my current role as deputy," Gilmore said. "But it was always something in the back of my find, starting my own firm."
Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis said Gilmore and Williams worked well once Williams took over as chief of staff. Davis also said it's too early to say who the governor is considering to replace Gilmore.
"I don't have any names," Davis said. "Replacing [Gilmore], just like Lamoureux, it's big shoes to fill."
Davis said Hutchinson is interested in staff members who have experience working in the Legislature, like Lamoureux. But Davis said that is only one factor that the governor would likely consider when evaluating candidates.
Metro on 06/14/2016