Scott Bennett is hanging it up as head of the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
The release:
Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) Director Scott Bennett is retiring effective March 20, 2020. Bennett informed the Highway Commission of his decision in a letter dated February 19.
“I’ve been fortunate to have been part of a great team and surrounded by so many capable and talented people throughout my entire career. I am indebted to the Commission, the staff, and so many others who have helped me and supported me all along,” Bennett concluded. “Any successes I’ve had have been the result of the efforts of many – I couldn’t and didn’t do this job by myself. It’s been a tough decision to leave, but in my heart, I know it’s the right one.”
Bennett, an engineer by training, has held the job since 2011 and he has had his critics (not only from us for tone-deaf defense of the eternal support for freeway widening.) He is a decade short of mandatory retirement age and the announcement comes amid a tax increase campaign for highways and, just today, a report of some other agency job changes, perhaps only coincidental.
The Highway Commission will pick a successor with influence from the governor who appointed many of them.