State Senator Sharon Trusty Resigns
It appears State Sen. Sharon Trusty will resign. Unconfirmed Confirmed reports are that her resignation was delivered to Governor Beebe at the state capital Friday afternoon.
Former State Representative Republican Michael Lamoureux is expected to shortly may announce his intention to run for the newly open seat in a special election.
UPDATE - Sources report that while Lamoureux is considering running a decision had not yet been made.
UPDATE II – Gov. Beebe’s office confirms that Sen. Trusty has informed the governor of her intent to resign.
UPDATE III - Confirmed that her husband dropped off her letter and that it is effective September 1.
UPDATE IV – Statement from Gov. Beebe on the resignation of Sen. Trusty…
“I have known Sharon since we served together in the Senate, and she has always been amicable to work with, even when we have been on opposite sides of an issue. Mine and Ginger’s thoughts and prayers are with the Trusty family, and I thank Sharon for her service to Arkansas and its people.” – Governor Mike Beebe
Under Arkansas law, Governor Beebe will ask the state committees of the respective political parties to determine whether their nominee for a special election will be chosen through a special primary election or through a convention of delegates. The parties then have ten days to report their decision in writing to the governor. Governor Beebe will then set a date for the special election, along with a special primary election and runoff primary election if necessary.
Arkansas law mandates that all elections to fill this vacancy be completed within 150 days of Senator Trusty’s resignation. The effective date of the resignation will be September 1.
UPDATE V – Republican Stan Berry, former State Representative and member of the Arkansas Department of Rural Services, confirms to the Tolbert Report that he is also considering running for the newly opened State Senate seat.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Trusty is a class act and I hate to see her have to resign. Thank you for your leadership and your service.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:39 pm
What caused her to resign?
August 21st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Dave – I have not been able to confirm the reasons but I am hearing that it has to do with some illness in her family that she is needing to devote her time to.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Sen. Trusty was (and still is) a gem. Here’s hoping she’s replaced with another strong conservative. Lamoureux would be great, actually.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
God bless Sharon and her family. Good people, and someone the party should emulate. Now, as far as who I would think could fit in nicely with the people of the district, my vote goes to Lamoureux. Nothing against Stan Berry. I just feel that Lamoureux has more of an ear for the people.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:56 pm
[...] Tolbert will not stop breaking news. Even on Friday. After 5 [...]
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:45 am
Everyone should hope that Ms. Trusty and family do well in the future. She is a class act.
It appears former State Representative, Lobbyist and fellow Russellville Republican Michael Lamoureux hopes to do very well too. While Ms. Trusty was quoted in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette saying she expects many candidates will seek her seat in a special election, she recommended Lamoureux, ” would be a very good choice for the people.” She added, ” I will let him decide what he is going to do.” Lamoureux was quoted in the same story as saying, “….I will make a decision (to run) pretty quickly.”
Circumstances certainly make it appear Mr. Lamoureux already had his mind made up to seek Trust’s Senate seat before the article was printed. He resigned his position as a Registered Lobbyist with the Arkansas Secretary of State on August 21, 2009. Isn’t that the same day Trusty submitted the letter resigning her Senate seat to Arkansas Governor Mike Beebee?
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Michael Lamoureux is a great man of intergrity. I really hope his decision is to run for this position.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 am
[...] third candidate who had earlier expressed interest in the race is former GOP Rep. Stan Berry. He sends along word today that he’s decided to stand down. His [...]