Editor’s note: This story has been updated to add a comment from Love and to clarify that Love was not the county employee accused of having a conflict of interest.
State Sen. Fred Love (D-Little Rock) resigned his job in Pulaski County government earlier this month after the county attorney said Love had not disclosed that another county employee had a conflict of interest, according to Love’s resignation letter to Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde.
“While I am thankful for this opportunity, I am disappointed and in disagreement with the attorney’s assessment of the incident that brings us to this juncture,” Love said in the letter, dated Aug. 9. “In no way did I see the issue with [name redacted] as a conflict and if I had felt so, I would have disclosed it immediately.”
Love has since reached out to reiterate that he disagreed with the county attorney. “I have never had a conflict of interest,” he said.
Pulaski County spokeswoman Madeline Roberts confirmed “the attorney” was a reference to County Attorney Adam Fogleman. Roberts said the person whose name is redacted in the letter is a county employee.
In the letter, Love said he felt there was “precedence” for his position in a previous case “in which HUD ruled in favor of the client,” but he provided few other details. “My integrity and honesty are the cornerstones of who I am as a professional, and I would not sacrifice this for any reason,” he wrote.
Hyde did not ask for Love to resign and Fogleman did not tell Love that he had to resign, Roberts said. Love’s letter said today is his last day of employment with the county.
Love is the county’s director of community services, where he oversees several departments, including housing. He began working with the county in 2010 and earns an annual salary of $101,476, Roberts said.
Love was elected to the state Senate last year after serving in the state House of Representatives from 2011 to 2022.
Love recently reported fraud, waste and abuse in the county’s housing voucher program, formerly known as Section 8, to local, state and federal officials. The county is conducting a forensic audit into the matter, and three employees have been fired.
Chief Deputy County Attorney Veletta Smith also resigned this month. Roberts provided her resignation letter as well. Smith’s letter did not reference a conflict of interest and was complimentary of Fogleman.