The members of the state Board of Apportionment, who are responsible for redrawing Arkansas’ congressional districts, on Monday approved the hiring of a former state Supreme Court chief justice to serve as the redistricting coordinator.
The three-membered board, consisting of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Secretary of State John Thurston, motioned and then approved the hiring of Betty Dickey to serve in the position at a rate of $10,000 a month until the end of the redistricting process.
After officially calling the meeting to order, the committee quickly went into executive session to interview Dickey. After reconvening, the board made a motion to hire her, which passed.
Hutchinson, who nominated Dickey for the position during the first meeting, spoke on her serving in this new role.
"I think with the credentials, and that’s one of the things that was important to me and the board, was that she’s going to be able to present in a very fair and judicious matter her work as redistricting coordinator, as well as the public meetings that are required," Hutchinson said.
The governor said Dickey will begin her position on June 15 and be responsible for the hiring and organization of her staff as well as determining an office location.
