Little Rock, AR – (JonesboroRightNow) – May 6, 2024 – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Monday appointed Maria Sullivan, wife of District 21 State Senator Dan Sullivan, to a seven-year term on the Arkansas Education Television Network (AETN) Commission. Sullivan replaces commission member John Brown.
This eight-member commission is the governing body of AETN or Arkansas PBS. All eight members serve eight-year terms and are appointed by the Governor. They meet quarterly.
“I’m excited and glad to see Governor Sanders moving forward with her agenda,” Senator Sullivan said referring to his wife, Maria’s, appointment. “Maria is an incredibly smart and capable woman. I know she will do a great job.”
Senator Dan Sullivan has been a critic of AETN. During the last week of the Arkansas Fiscal Legislative Session, Senator Sullivan’s proposal to reduce AETN’s appropriation didn’t pass the Joint Budget Committee — for the second fiscal session in a row. Sullivan’s proposal would have reduced the AETN’s spending authority for private funds by 20%, from $8.96 million to $7.17 million.
“Maria’s appointment is a result of management issues that go back several years,” Senator Sullivan said.