Statement from the Keith Crass for State Representative Campaign.

Hot Springs, Arkansas - “The Keith Crass for State Representative campaign will be suspended indefinitely.   This morning Keith Crass tragically passed away after suffering from an unknown medical condition.   The campaign realizes there will be a natural desire for more information.  However, at this time, the campaign asks that respect for the Crass family and privacy be made a priority.

Keith Crass was a friend to all of us and genuinely enjoyed all of the new friends he made during this election cycle.  He loved Hot Springs and was looking forward to serving the people of Hot Springs in the legislature.

The campaign will have more information about arrangements when the appropriate information is available for release.

All inquiries regarding election procedure should be made to the Republican Party of Arkansas at 501-372-7301.

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Double Dipping Our Taxpayers

Your editorials of Oct. 3, Jan. 13 and March 11, 2010, and The Sentinel-Record Oct. 1 story concerning Judge Williams’ testimony before the APERS Board about the three courthouse ladies’ efforts to qualify for state retirements while still employed do not serve Judge Williams well.

He admits he did not advise his Quorum Court nor our county Attorney Ralph Ohm of the matter. Neither does the story say whether the attorney knew of it, although he was probably in the courthouse often while the ladies worked without pay. Should he have known about it? Is he aware of the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act? Does he know the difference between an “exempt” and “non-exempt” job … and how each is affected by the “overtime rules?”

Does any employee in Garland County government understand how to administer the FLSA? Attorney Ohm handled a timekeeping problem in the Garland County Department Sheriff’s office recently – but it was handled as a “lawsuit” – not as a FLSA pay problem. Both problems were subject to the FLSA, but the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department refused to get involved, even though it was their responsibility.

I notified them by fax with copies of your newspaper stories. Even state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel knew of the problem in June ‘09 and was unaware it was a pay matter under the FLSA and refused to act.

Large corporations assign responsibility for compliance with federal and state labor laws to executives responsible for personnel and labor relations. Does anyone in Hot Springs understands these requirements? I hope the city of Hot Springs knows. All three of our officials, Judge Williams, the Quorum Court and the county attorney, were AWOL during the whole matter. West-Taylor should sue them and APERS, too.

George B. Phillips
Hot Springs

P.S. Terry Smith took advantage of the situation.

[*Hot Springs Sentinel Record, October 6, 2010]

Testifying Wednesday before the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System Board of Directors, Garland County Judge Larry Williams acknowledged he did not advise the Quorum Court that Treasurer Jo West-Taylor, Circuit Clerk Vicki Rima and Assessor Brenda Short said they were considering going off the payroll for 90 days in 2008 in order to qualify for retirement benefits. He also said he did not discuss the matter with Garland County Attorney Ralph Ohm.

After those statements and comments about checking on other elected officials whom he’d heard had “similarly retired” around the state, Williams said he did his own independent investigation, noting there was “something that kind of bothered me about it” and then he admitted, “If I had it to do all over again, I probably would have said, ‘Ladies, I think for this to work properly, you need to submit letters of resignation.’”

>> read the rest of The Sentinel-Record article, October 3, 2010, Page 20 Editorial Section

Williams testified that he told Jones he “was also eligible to do the same thing.” He said he did not seek to draw APERS benefits while still on the job because he planned to run for the Arkansas House and did not want to be accused of being a “double-dipper.”

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This says it all.

Mr. Williams clearly admits that he knew “double dipping” was wrong. What amazes me is that during these discussions with the three elected officials, Mr. Williams knew he was going to seek the House seat, yet he STILL chose to do the wrong thing.

Just another example of how a career politician thinks.

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Keith Crass, Business Owner  vs. Larry Williams, Career Politician

Who do you think will best serve your interests?

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The board determined Wednesday that Treasurer Jo West-Taylor improperly drew retirement benefits while still on the job. Because testimony from both sides in the issue lasted until late in the day, the board delayed action on a remedy until Monday. APERS Executive Director Gail Stone said in an e-mail Thursday afternoon that the board will reconvene at 8 a.m. Monday in the Capital Hotel’s Quapaw Room “to consider the remainder of the appeal of Jo West-Taylor.”

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Williams testified that he told Jones he “was also eligible to do the same thing.” He said he did not seek to draw APERS benefits while still on the job because he planned to run for the Arkansas House and did not want to be accused of being a “double-dipper.”

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>> read the rest of The Sentinel Record article, October 1, 2010, Main Section Page 1

Garland County Judge Larry Williams said there is justification for paving Little Bear Trail even though one county resident claims it is being done as a favor for a friend.

Wanda Howell, who lives on Newark Circle “just up the road” from Little Bear Trail, said Wednesday, “Our county judge, Larry Williams, is having a private road paved that goes on top of a mountain and dead ends.”

Howell said the road is being paved because Williams has a friend building a house there.

“It just goes on top of a mountain,” Howell said. “They’ve been working down there for two, maybe three weeks. It’s just not right. We have been asking and asking to get something done to our road.”

>> read the rest of The Sentinel Record article

It is truly an honor to have the support of the men and women of law enforcement, for whom I have the utmost respect. These people put their lives at risk every day and I am pleased to be able to help support them by, among other things, working with their association to promote better benefits for its members.

Thank you for your endorsement, but more importantly, thank you for your service.

It’s true.

I’ve had 3 large signs and 5 yard signs stolen in the last 2 weeks. My signs were within groups of political candidate signs and were the only ones missing in each group. So it’s obvious mine were targeted specifically. Were they targeted by supporters of my opponent?

On the one hand, it’s a sad commentary of our times. On the other hand, I’m flattered that I’m considered such a serious threat to my opponent that my signs are being stolen.

Dear editor:

It never ceases to amaze me at how creative our politicians can be.

Example: Larry Williams’ term is up as Garland County judge, Rick Saunders’ term is up in the Arkansas District 24 House seat; therefore, Williams is running for Saunders’ seat and Saunders is running for Williams’ seat. Talk about a “good ’ol boy” plan.

I don’t know about you, but I am really tired of the goings-on in our local political theater. I am ready to break the chain. Rick Davis, you’re in as county judge as far as I’m concerned. Keith Crass, I’m for you as state representative in District 24.

I hope the rest of Garland County is ready to break the chain as well. Davis for county judge and Crass for the state House would be a good start.

Joseph Burba
Hot Springs

[*Hot Springs Sentinel Record, September 22, 2010]

NOTE from Keith Crass:
I don’t know Mr. Burba but he obviously is a wise voter. Thank you for your support! The good news is many other voters share your feelings.