Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday appointed the wife of a leading critic of Arkansas PBS to the panel overseeing it.
Sanders named Maria Sullivan to the AETN Commission. Sullivan is married to state Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro), who has repeatedly sought to defund the network, which is supported by public and private money.
“I was surprised to hear from Governor Sanders that I was being considered for this appointment,” Maria Sullivan said in an email to the Arkansas Times today. “The opportunity to join the AETN commission is welcomed. I look forward to serving Arkansans in any way that I can.”
Earlier, Dan Sullivan told Jonesboro Right Now that he was “excited and glad to see Governor Sanders moving forward with her agenda. Maria is an incredibly smart and capable woman. I know she will do a great job.”
“Maria’s appointment is a result of management issues that go back several years,” he added.
Maria Sullivan replaces John Brown on the commission. Her term will expire March 23, 2031.
