Gov. Mike Beebe appointed Rogers lawyer James Clark on Thursday (April 3) to replace resigning Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone.
Stone previously said his last day in office would be April 3. He is resigning to take a job with Walmart’s legal team.
Clark, 80, is a former Rogers deputy city attorney, officials said. He retired in January.
Stone informed Beebe’s office on March 25 of his intention to step down. The governor then announced he would appoint a lawyer from Benton County to serve as interim prosecuting attorney until Stone’s elected term expires on Dec. 31, 2014.
Stone said he will work closely with the interim prosecutor on the transition.
Two candidates are running for the elected prosecuting attorney job on the May 20 ballot. They are Nathan Smith, a deputy prosecuting attorney in Stone’s office, and Kimberly Weber, a Rogers lawyer who has served as a prosecutor in Washington County. The winner will take office in January 2015.
Stone had previously said he would not seek re-election.
