KUAR | By Steve Brawner / Talk Business & Politics
The Arkansas Senate voted Tuesday to accept a Senate Ethics Committee finding that Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, had filed a “spurious, frivolous and retaliatory” ethics petition against Sen. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff.
Votes were 26-4 on three separate motions. One affirmed that Clark had filed the unmerited charges. Another moved him to 35th in seniority in the Senate and to recommend to next year’s 94th General Assembly that he remain there. Next year's session convenes Jan. 9. The third was to suspend him until the end of Jan. 8, 2023, from Senate activities except for organizational and orientation meetings of the 94th General Assembly, including having the use of staff, his Senate license plate, Senate digital devices, and his email account.
Clark was on vacation and did not attend the session — a fact pointed out by several of his Republican colleagues.
Michael Hibblen/KUAR News
Sen. Alan Clark speaking with reporters on Sept. 9 after the Senate Ethics Committee determined he made a frivolous and retaliatory complaint against Sen. Stephanie Flowers. On Tuesday, the full Senate voted to accept the committee's recommendation to sanction Clark.