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Little Rock board ratifies Karen Buchanan’s reappointment to housing authority after contested discussion
Summary
The board voted 6–2 to ratify Karen Buchanan’s reappointment to the Little Rock Housing Authority (Metropolitan Housing Alliance) for a term through Sept. 30, 2030 after a debate over board composition and the need for business experience.
The Little Rock City Board of Directors on Oct. 6 ratified the reappointment of Karen Buchanan to the Board of Commissioners of the Little Rock Housing Authority (doing business as Metropolitan Housing Alliance) for a term to expire Sept. 30, 2030. The board announced the motion passed by a 6–2 vote.
Director Hines said he would not support the reappointment, arguing the authority’s board needs members with business experience to help manage financial matters. Hines said Buchanan has done good work but that the MHA board needs a different mix of skills.
Several directors, including Director Miller and Director Lewis, spoke in favor of Buchanan. Miller noted Buchanan’s prior service, local residency and efforts during a period of financial remediation. Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and other supporters said Buchanan voted in favor of measures to address the authority’s financial issues and warned that rejection could create further disarray on a self-appointing board. A member of the MHA board reportedly voted unanimously to recommend Buchanan’s reappointment before the city board considered the ratification.
The transcript records the board’s announcement that the reappointment passed by a 6–2 margin; the transcript does not provide a full named roll-call list with each member’s vote in the supplied excerpt. Implementation details such as oath-taking or the effective date beyond the stated term were not specified in the provided transcript.
