by Linda Ives

Mar 16, 2010

I, for one, am thrilled to see that Doug Kidd has an opponent this political season, and that Saline County voters will have a choice in who they want for Circuit Clerk. Doug Kidd, a former law enforcement officer and current Circuit Clerk, is the epitome of what is wrong with Saline County politics. Kidd, by his own admission, put his long-time friend and former prosecutor Dan Harmon back on the county payroll after he was convicted and sent to prison for racketeering, extortion, and various drug charges, because Harmon needed a job. When outraged citizens complained, Kidd thumbed his nose at them and unabashedly told them that they were fortunate to someone with Harmon’s qualifications working for them again.

Of course, Kidd is simply the latest in a long list of politicians to smack Saline County citizens in the face with their arrogance. Mayor Rick Holland also hired his best friend as Chief of Police, despite the fact that multiple witnesses have implicated him in a double murder. This is the kind of stuff that has put Saline County Arkansas on the pages of The Wall Street Journal and even international media outlets for years.

Well Saline County, Doug Kidd and Rick Holland have very clearly stated they don’t care what you think — they are in control and they will do whatever they want. But come November, you will have the final say. Tell them what you think about their arrogance in a voting booth. And If you don’t vote — you are also part of the politics as usual in Saline County.

  • Linda Ives

    My last comment in this discussion was perhaps not as clear as I wish it had been. I hope that people will vote whatever their opinion is in these races. If you approve of their actions, so be it, but please vote one way or another.

    Mar 16, 2010

  • Kenneth Ray

    I have to agree with Linda on the Harmon deal. Doug should have never hired back Dan Harmon after everything that happened in the past. While I am sure that Doug is a good man he did betray the trust of his people. It was not his right to hire someone with a sordid past such as that. Yes people do deserve a second chance in life for past transgressions but you have to ask for the forgiveness of those you hurt also. Harmon never asked the people of this county and the people of the county paid his wages while he was in that job. Would you hire a pedophile at a daycare when he got out of prison because he served his time and needed a job? I don’t know if Doug Kidd ever apologized for that incident but he will have a lot of work on getting the forgiveness of his constituents on that one.
    Linda Ives said:

    I wouldn’t have a problem at all if Doug Kidd had a PRIVATE business and wanted to give Harmon a job. But Kidd knew that ensconcing Harmon in the very courthouse which Harmon had used as a vehicle to further his criminal enterprise and placing him back on the taxpayer payroll was just plain wrong. Further, I don’t think anyone can argue that Kidd’s comments, when confronted with citizens’ outrage, were tantamount to thumbing his nose at them. It reeks of cronyism and good ole boy politics which has plagued this county for decades. I would also add that I have watched Harmon (and numerous others) get away with his crimes for years while everyone winked and looked the other way. Is there any point at all where the people of this county will stop making excuses and tolerating this crap??

    Bottom line is that Doug Kidd has betrayed the trust of the people.

    Mar 17, 2010

  • Walter Steed

    WOW….you guys are pretty hard nosed….I lived in Saline County…I guess I’d be part of the ‘scum’ you guys love to invent……I’ve known Doug Kidd all my life. He is a very honorable man. Maybe it’s time to get a life

    Apr 7, 2010

  • Kenneth Ray

    Walter I don’t know anything about Doug and have only met him once. He says he made a mistake and apologized from what I have read. I think it was a rather egregious error to have hired the man considering his crime and putting him in place of county records is all I am saying and that he will have a tough time regaining the confidence of his constituents. I don’t think he should be hung up to dry for the error in judgement albeit a very large error. I never said that I would or would not vote for him for all I know when it comes to that time I may vote for him. One mistake doesn’t make the person.

    Walter Steed said:

    WOW….you guys are pretty hard nosed….I lived in Saline County…I guess I’d be part of the ‘scum’ you guys love to invent……I’ve known Doug Kidd all my life. He is a very honorable man. Maybe it’s time to get a life

    Apr 8, 2010