Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone is resigning April 3 to take a job with Walmart’s legal team, he said in a letter released to the media.
Stone said he informed Gov. Mike Beebe’s office on Tuesday (March 25) of his intention to step down next week. The governor will appoint a lawyer from Benton County to serve as interim prosecuting attorney until Stone’s 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 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.
Matt DeCample, the governor’s spokesman, said Beebe will look at recommendations that come into the office and make an interim selection as close to the April 3 vacancy date as possible.
