Former RPA Chairman Dennis Milligan Files for Saline Co Circuit Clerk
I don’t usually report on county races but this one is interesting. Former Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas Dennis Milligan surprised some people this morning by filling for Saline County Circuit Clerk. The office is currently held by former Democratic State Representative Doug Kidd who has held this office since 2001.
Kidd has come under fire for his hiring of former Saline County Prosecutor Dan Harmon, who was served eight years in prison for racketeering and drug-related offenses prior to Kidd hiring him to do part time work for his office. Harmon was arrested again last month for selling drug near a school in Sheridan.
“I’d say they need to get their Bible out and read about redemption, and I’d also tell them they need to realize what a bargain the county is getting for $9 an hour,” (CORRECTION - The above quote was from Harmon not Kidd.) “He’s doing a good job and we’re very fortunate that someone with his legal knowledge is there to help us. I almost feel a little guilty and that I’m taking advantage of someone with his knowledge and experience,” Kidd told the Benton Courier last year in defending his hiring of Harmon.
“I decided to run because the incumbent has become so arrogant that he has hired a man who betrayed a public trust and went to federal prison for it,” Milligan said in a press release. “I could not let such a slap in the face to Saline County voters go unchallenged.”
“There are so many people unemployed in Saline County right now because of the Recession. It is an outrage that our circuit clerk hired the epitome of a crooked politician to work in that office when so many good people need work,” Milligan added. “I want to return integrity to that office.”
Full Press Release on the jump.
Dennis Milligan news release…
BENTON — Bryant businessman and former Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Dennis Milligan filed to run for Saline County Circuit Clerk Tuesday.
The 52-year-old Milligan is the owner of Water Treatment Services and is involved in commercial and residential real estate development in Saline County . He breeds and races thoroughbred horses in Arkansas , Texas , and Louisiana .
“I decided to run because the incumbent has become so arrogant that he has hired a man who betrayed a public trust and went to federal prison for it,” Milligan said. “I could not let such a slap in the face to Saline County voters go unchallenged.”
Former Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Harmon has been working in the circuit clerk’s office since 2008. Harmon was convicted in July 1997 of racketeering, extortion and drug conspiracy, and sentenced to eight years in prison. He was later sentenced to three additional years in prison on drug charges. He was released from prison in 2006. He has been out of prison for four years.
Harmon was recently arrested for allegedly selling the painkillers hydrocodone and morphine to an undercover officer near a school in Sheridan .
“There are so many people unemployed in Saline County right now because of the Recession. It is an outrage that our circuit clerk hired the epitome of a crooked politician to work in that office when so many good people need work,” Milligan said. “I want to return integrity to that office.”
Milligan said he would like to have the opportunity to study ways to modernize the circuit clerk’s office and make public information more readily available to people on the Internet.
“The incumbent is in his tenth year in that office. He has had no challengers in his re-election bid and has produced no new ideas other than to keep the status quo,” Milligan said. “It is time the people of Saline County had a circuit clerk that wants to improve operations and efficiency.”
Milligan was chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas from 2007-2008. Before that, he served as treasurer of Republican Party of Arkansas and chairman of the Saline County Republican Party.
He was a Saline County Constable from 2006-2007. For the last five years, Milligan has been a volunteer for the Saline county Sheriff’s Office as certified domestic violence deputy.
Milligan is a supporter of Saline County Humane Society and a member of the Church at Rock Creek.
He has been married to the former Tina Summers for 33 years. They have one grown daughter, Tiffany, who an attorney.
Tags: 2010 Candidates