Huckabee makes point with 6,250 pennies

By Grover Welch, Herald Staff

Two companies who have been doing business with the Student Activities Board since August have now been brought into compliance with city licensing requirements that govern businesses operating in Jonesboro.

On Friday Union Advisory Board President David Huckabee paid $62.50 in city fees for two companies he owns and operates in Jonesboro.

The companies, Pyro Erectus and H&K Enterprises, contracted more than $5,000 with the SAB to provide services such as providing pens and lighting this year's Homecoming bonfire.

Huckabee, a senior political science and speech communications major of Little Rock, paid the $62.50 fine after receiving a notice from the Jonesboro City Collector's office. Huckabee paid the fine using 6,250 pennies, which took more than 45 minutes to process.

When asked if he wanted to comment to The Herald, a visibly dissatisfied Huckabee said, "I don't think so."

While Huckabee would not discuss the payment with the press, he did tell city employees of his disgust with the media treatment of the situation.

Huckabee also voiced concern over the attention he was receiving.

"Obviously, there is nothing better to cover on campus than me licensing my company," Huckabee said. "You'd think they would realize no one even reads that paper, or even takes them seriously yet here they are."

"He has paid the fee in full," City Collector Becky Sharp said.

"We have no further business with Mr. Huckabee, as he is now in compliance with our office," Sharp said.

"I have been paid this way before," Sharp said. "I'm sure he thought it out before he came down here."

Huckabee was asked about the contracts after an ASU employee questioned the ethics of a student leader contracting with another student organization.

Arkansas State University President Les Wyatt defended Huckabee in a letter to the editor to The Herald, which was also sent to other media organizations in the state.

"No purchasing laws or university procedures were violated in the companies' dealings with this student organization," Wyatt said.

Wyatt also apologized to Huckabee for any suggestion of wrongdoing by any university official.