This just received from the county judge’s office:

The Election Department Interim Director Shawn Camp has been relieved of duty effective immediately. Deputy Director Amanda Dickens has been elevated to acting director. Dickens has served Pulaski County for the last 17 years in the County Clerk’s office and Election Department.

The Election Commissioners have been notified. The County Attorney and County Clerk stand ready to provide additional support to the election commission, should it any be needed.

“Pulaski County is moving forward,” said Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde. “I want to ensure that the election commission has the resources it needs to ensure that next week’s election is conducted properly, is accessible and transparent. I have full confidence in Ms. Dickens experience and she has my full support and has assured me that we are adequately staffed and ready for Tuesday’s election.”

Camp became interim director after Bryan Poe resigned amid the conflicts that arose between the election staff and Republican members of the Election Commission during the 2020 election.  Since then, the Republican majority of the three-person commission, led by Chair Kristi Stahr has signed their intention to take over the election operation and even day-to-day oversight, though the staff has been hired and paid by Pulaski County.

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Camp had been working with the commissioners in recent days, though he’d had a physical altercation with a former commissioner during the 2020 election. Evelyn Gomez shoved Camp when he blocked the entrance to a commission office.

Seeking more information.

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UPDATE: Camp was paid $81,589. He was terminated today. The termination notice said his services were no longer needed and he was not eligible to be rehired.

Camp’s firing came a day after he sent an email to Judge Barry Hyde:

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I will be out of the country from Monday, September 13th through Monday, September 26th and back in the office on Tuesday, September 27th. In my absence, Amanda Dickens, Acting Assistant Director, will be supervising the Election Department and all its activities. Amanda is a very knowledgeable, experienced and capable election professional, and she has my complete confidence. The Election Department team is prepared for my absence and clear about their responsibilities. They are cross-trained and committed to supporting each other to successfully resolve any issues that may arise. Please contact Amanda if you have any concerns that require attention during my absence.

Hyde did not respond to the email. Note that Camp gave notice during a special election cycle for a Little Rock sales tax, with election day Tuesday, Sept. 14, and the certification process to follow in the succeeding two weeks.

UPDATE II: I’ve now heard from Hyde who confirms my suspicion that he’d fired Camp from serving notice on short notice of his absence during the election. This was “intolerable,” Hyde said, and an abandonment of his duties. He said he had thought Camp had deserved a shot at consideration for the job given his long experience, but that meant he had to earn the job. So far, his work has been acceptable, but it was not acceptable for the chief election employee to be absent on election day.

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He said he’d immediately informed the election commissioners of his decision and said he’d had an agreeable discussion with Stahr about the primary interest being an accessible, transparent and well-run election. He didn’t say, but the last thing the county needs is to give Stahr more fuel for her bill of particulars against Pulaski County elected officials.

Camp, who did not return my call, apparently had long planned a European trip with his wife, postponed during the pandemic. Hyde said it might have been different if Camp had come to him last month and tried to work something out, but a Thursday before the election was too late.

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