Democrat Gazette

No recuse for Buffalo

The state Pollution Control and Ecology Commission did not demand Gov. Asa Hutchinson's February 2018 appointee, Mike Freeze, recuse from a vote regarding C&H's 6,500-head hog farm. Curiously, Administrative Law Judge Charles Moulton didn't either.

Referring to a recent article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: The alleged result is a man that twice sent letters supporting C&H prior to his appointment, a man that remains a paid member of the Farm Bureau State Board of Directors, and a contributor to C&H's legal team, has since appointment voted to allow C&H to continue to operate on an expired permit, and failed to recuse himself.

Mike Freeze has been cut some slack by the commissioners who serve with him, but he has yet to clearly exhibit the ability to compartmentalize his personal entanglements from his tasks as a commissioner of the Pollution Control and Ecology Commission.

So an observer could be forgiven for concluding Mike Freeze has failed to dutifully serve the people of Arkansas, and is simply continuing his past behavior.

If Mr. Freeze were to resign, I have no doubt the governor would be far more admired for accepting the resignation.

DUANE WOLTJEN

Fayetteville