Lonoke County is in a race against time to appoint a new clerk following the resignation of Dawn Porterfield, who stepped down on Sunday after serving for 22 years. Her departure occurs just days before the primary election scheduled for March 3, 2024, during a period of early voting. The county’s quorum court plans to hold a special meeting at 17:30 on Friday to declare a vacancy and recommend an appointment to the governor.
Porterfield, who opted not to seek re-election, cited “personal and family health concerns” as primary reasons for her resignation. In a letter shared on her Facebook page, she expressed the toll these issues have taken on her ability to fulfill her duties. She noted an environment of “repeated persecution” which has diminished respect within her office and led to significant errors in county processes.
In her resignation, Porterfield stated, “I do not wish to certify the current election under my name. I believe it is my duty to step back from the county and address the concerns within my family at this time.” She expressed gratitude to her staff for their support and urged the county to come together for its citizens.
With the clerk’s position now open, Shawna Rogers, the deputy clerk, and Joanie Howell are candidates in the upcoming Republican Primary. As the county seeks a new leader, questions surrounding financial discrepancies in the clerk’s office have surfaced.
In a recent quorum court meeting, former Justice of the Peace Bill “Pete” Pedersen scrutinized the lack of action regarding findings from a 2022 State Legislative Audit. This audit uncovered overpayments totaling $4,231 in payroll from January 2022 through July 2023. Specific issues included overpayments to employees due to misreported hours and inadequate documentation for leave taken.
Pedersen raised concerns over accountability, questioning if any of the overpaid funds had been reimbursed. “This is fraud. This is taxpayers’ money,” he asserted. Local government watchdog Mariah Cobb defended the employees, stating they were not attempting to defraud the county but rather trying to perform their duties effectively.
Amidst the scrutiny, it was revealed that Porterfield had not attended a quorum court meeting in almost a year, further complicating the governance of the office. Deputy clerk Rogers faced an onslaught of questions from Pedersen, who insisted that all inquiries should be directed to Porterfield, who reportedly has been unresponsive.
The audit detailed various instances of overpayment, including a specific employee who received $2,994 beyond what was owed, attributed to several accounting errors. Others faced similar issues, prompting calls for accountability and remediation.
As the county prepares for the upcoming primary, the quorum court members have emphasized the need for transparency and responsibility from the clerk’s office. County Attorney Jason Owens indicated that the findings from the audit had been submitted to legal authorities, but whether these findings warrant prosecution remains uncertain.
The looming primary and the urgency of appointing a new clerk highlight the potential challenges ahead for Lonoke County as it navigates leadership changes and strives to resolve ongoing financial discrepancies. The community is left to grapple with the implications of these developments as election day approaches.
