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Democrats change rules to block Dobbins from ballot Sunday, Jul 20, 2008 By Jeremy Peppas Stephens Media LITTLE ROCK - Taking steps to keep one of its own out of the Legislature, the Democratic Party of Arkansas changed its rules Saturday and refused to certify former state Rep. Dwayne Dobbins for the November general election ballot. At their state convention, Democrats approved a rewrite of party rules to disqualify any person who has resigned from public office as a provision of a plea agreement to avoid felony prosecution from being certified for the ballot. Dobbins, of North Little Rock, was the only candidate to file this spring for the House seat he resigned in 2005 in a plea agreement after being accused of fondling a teenage girl. He was originally charged with a felony but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and gave up his legislative post as part of the plea deal with prosecutors. "We've adopted the rules and he's off the ballot," state Democratic Chairman Bill Gwatney said Saturday. "Our attorneys will be talking," Dobbins, who attended Saturday's convention, said after the vote. He decline further comment, as did his lawyer, Leon Johnson of Little Rock. State Sen. Tracy Steele, D-North Little Rock, who has personally supported Dobbins in the past, said he had not made a decision on what to do. "I think it is premature for me to say anything about any possible (legal) actions," Steel said. "I just want what is best for the people of the district." Dobbins, 45, was a two-term House member in 2005 when he was charged with felony sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment. After his plea agreement and resignation, his wife, Sharon, won a special election for the District 39 seat her husband had held. Sharon Dobbins, who attended the party convention with her husband Saturday, was expected to run again this year. But in a surprise move Dwayne Dobbins filed for the seat on the last day of the filing period in March. "This isn't about Dwayne Dobbins," Gwatney said Saturday. "We shouldn't as a party allow someone who has resigned their office as a condition of their plea agreement, then turn around and allow them to be our nominee." The Democratic Party had pondered what to do about Dobbins since March. Gwatney had said he would encourage Dobbins not to run and said the party would refund the filing fee Dobbins paid if he dropped out. Dobbins later drew Green Party challenger Richard Carroll and last week drew write-in opponent Clinton R. Hampton as well for the November election. Gwatney said Saturday it was too early to say if the Democratic Party would support either. Meanwhile, the House also is considering steps to block Dobbins from being seated if he runs in November and wins. House Speaker Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, said Thursday he would begin gauging support among House members this week for a rule change that would deny membership in the House to anyone who has resigned from public office as part of a plea bargain. If members indicate they would support such a rule, the House will consider the matter in a caucus, Petrus said. |
