FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – A local Republican lawmaker said Monday (Nov. 24) he is disappointed that University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart has no comment on a letter that GOP legislators sent to him last week.
A letter signed by 18 Republican legislators went to Gearhart on Nov. 17, saying the university should stay focused on its mission and not on a Fayetteville City Council dispute over a “divisive” civil rights ordinance. (The letter from legislators can be seen by clicking here.)
That letter was in response to one earlier this month from Gearhart, written on university letterhead, asking the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce to rescind its resolution stating it supports the repeal of Ordinance 119. (To read Gearhart’s letter, click here.)
On Monday, university spokesman Steve Voorhies told 5NEWS the chancellor would have no comment “at this time” on the letter from legislators.
State Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, said the “no comment” statement from the university is disappointing. The letter to the chancellor from legislators was written on Ballinger’s House of Representatives letterhead.
Ballinger said Gearhart should explain to legislators his opinion on the issue.
“It feels a little like we are unimportant to him,” Ballinger said.
Ballinger said the chancellor shouldn’t treat legislators like they are unimportant since they oversee the university budget. The Legislature convenes in January in Little Rock for the 2015 session.
State Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, one of the 18 who signed last week’s letter to Gearhart, said the chancellor is out of step with the public on Ordinance 119.
“The chancellor doesn’t have a comment because he’s on the wrong side of the issue,” Hester said.
Hester added that Gerhard should be concerned with what the public thinks since taxpayer money funds the university budget.
In August, the Fayetteville City Council approved Ordinance 119, prohibiting local businesses and entities from discriminating against customers and others based on gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and other factors.
Opponents contend the ordinance would require church officials against their wishes to perform same-sex marriages and would allow transgender people to use a public restroom of their choice.
After opponents gathered the required number of signatures in a petition drive, the ordinance was placed on a special election ballot to be voted on by the public Dec. 9.
State Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, said he is proud of Gearhart’s stance.
“The university is part of the fabric of Fayetteville, and as such, it’s only right and fair that its leadership be allowed to weigh in on important local issues,” Leding said last week.
After Gearhart sent his letter to the chamber, Hester posted several tweets, saying the university and chancellor support “preventing pastors from practicing free religion” and support a “grown man sharing a public bathroom” with a 7-year-old girl.
In another tweet, Hester added that he cannot support the university’s 2015 budget.
At the time, 5NEWS asked Gearhart for a response to Hester’s tweets, but the chancellor declined through a university spokesman.
