The media has been full of stories lately about Arkansas' Independent Citizens Commission and the setting of future salaries for the state's elected officials.
A twist in the usual story about "not wanting" a raise from the public trough this year came from Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin (the only man to campaign for a job that he said should be abolished) and our soon-to-be-exiting term-limited Secretary of State, Mark Martin.
Martin, a civil engineer from Prairie Grove, who was also a former state House of Representatives member, ran for Secretary of State almost eight years ago -- with the unique name recognition of the state's premier NASCAR racer -- Mark Martin of Batesville.
This will be Martin's last year as Secretary of State as he is term-limited as of January 2018.
The Independent Citizens Commission announced, well before the formal vote, that the seven-member oversight commission was looking at giving a blanket 2 percent pay increase to all state elected officials.
Immediately, Lt. Gov. Griffin, a noted conservative, began a public campaign to forego the raise for his office.
Griffin argues, as he has for the past four years, that the Lt. Governor's office is little more than a part-time job -- not worthy, he intones, of a full-time state salary -- or at this juncture a full 2 percent raise, as indicated by the Independent Citizens Commission.
Martin, seizing on the swell of good publicity shown Griffin, said he too, should forego a 2 percent raise.
The difference in these two conservatives is that Griffin sealed the deal by writing a formal letter to the Independent Citizens Commission.
Martin, after his public announcement made through a spokesman, did nothing.
Much of this difference in the two men's actions -- both members of the same political party, the Arkansas Republican Party -- is about accountability.
Arkansas' voters, and certainly the rank-and-file Republicans, should make sure what transpires next actually does happen.
The Independent Citizens Commission granted Lt. Gov. Griffin's request -- it did not allocate a 2 percent pay increase to the Lt. Governor's office for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2017.
Because there was not a formal letter submitted by Secretary of State Mark Martin, the commission gave his office a 2 percent salary increase starting July 1.
Martin, at the announcement of the granting of a 2 percent raise, through a spokesman, said he would "not take the raise."
What?
Through the spokesman, Martin said he would "not accept the increase and that if it was granted, he would refuse to accept it and would instead donate it toward the purchase of new election equipment."
Again, Martin has made a statement -- through an intermediary -- that in all likelihood will not be carried out.
The Independent Citizens Commission was set up by the voters of Arkansas, through a Constitutional Amendment to set the salaries for all elected officials rather than having the Legislature set the salaries. The commission accepts recommendations (see Lt. Gov. Griffin's recent letter) to set the salaries.
Martin, did not, however, submit a letter to the Commission.
I have to guess he wanted them to read his comments in the press and take his words to heart in their assessment of their duties.
The Commission, did, in my opinion, do its due diligence. They are, by authority, to set the salaries for the various offices with indifference to whom the office holder is at the time.
I see the logic and wisdom in Lt. Gov. Griffin's letter. So, apparently did the commission.
So now all Arkansans should expect to see the $1,800 donation -- the difference between the $90,000 salary Martin receives today and $91,800 salary he will receive in the new fiscal year -- as a donation to "purchase new election equipment."
I'm not sure what $1,800 will buy in new election equipment.
But I am sure I would like to see the canceled personal checks from Secretary of State Martin's personal account to the state of Arkansas for those donations.
Wouldn't you Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer?
-- Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 07/12/2017