Background
Darr, Mark was born in 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States.
Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
Darr, Mark was born in 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States.
Bachelor, Ouachita Baptist University.
Under sanction for ethics violations involving illegal use of campaign funds, Darr resigned as Lieutenant Governor on February 1, 2014. He is a graduate of Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Arkansas, and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Prior to the election, he had never run for public office.
On November 2, 2010, in the closest constitutional race, Darr defeated Shane Broadway.
On August 12, 2013, Darr announced his candidacy for Arkansas"s 4th congressional district. He ended his candidacy after questions were raised about campaign expenditures during his 2010 campaign for lieutenant governor.
On August 29, 2013, Darr ended his campaign for Congress. Scandal and resignation
In late November 2013, questions of ethics violations arose after Darr reportedly filed incorrect and misleading campaign financial statements.
Darr maintained his innocence but state Democrats and fellow Republicans threatened impeachment proceedings if Darr did not step down.
An ethics commission accused Darr of breaking Arkansas Code 11 times and of using approximately $31,572.74 from his campaign funds for personal expenses. On December 30, 2013, he signed a letter stating he would pay the state"s $11,000 Ethics Commission fine but maintained his mistakes were unintentional. Darr announced on January 10, 2014 that he would resign from his office effective February 1, 2014.
Darr failed to officially notify Governor Mike Beebe (a Democrat) that he was resigning.
Beebe is the only Constitutional Officer able to declare the office vacant but did forward copies to Republican elected state officials. He has not yet paid the $11,000 Ethics Commission fine but according to the Baxter Bulletin, local officials have said he will "pay soon".
A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to succeed Democrat Bill Halter in 2010, having defeated Democratic challenger State Senator and former House Speaker Shane Broadway by a margin of 51 to 49 percent.
Married Kim Darr; children: Madison, Cooper.