Cleveland County/Circuit Clerk Receives Diamond Award

Left: The AAC presented Cleveland County Clerk Jimmy Cummings with a Diamond Award for his work and diligence during the 2019 Legislative Session. Above: The wording on the Diamond Award reads, “In recognition of your outstanding service and dedication to the Arkansas Association of County Clerks during the 92nd General Assembly Regular Session of 2019.

Cummings honored for work during 2019 session

Story by Christy L. Smith Photos by Holland Doran AAC Communications Staff

During its June meeting, the Arkansas Association of County Clerks awarded Cleveland County/Circuit Clerk Jimmy Cummings a Diamond Award in recognition of his “outstanding service and dedication to the Arkansas Association of County Clerks during the 92nd General Assembly Regular Session of 2019.”

According to AAC Legal Counsel and County Clerks Liaison Lindsey Bailey, the session saw an overwhelming number of bills aimed at amending elections procedures. Some had a positive impact — such as a bill that passed both chambers and will provide one-time money for all counties to acquire new voting equipment — while many others would have had a negative impact.

Many of those bills were introduced without input from the county clerks or election commissioners, who actually conduct elections. Compounding things, there was no predicting what day a legislator would run a bill that would adversely affect the administration of elections.

“Jimmy was faithful to be at the capitol any day that he was able when there was a possibility that a bill might run, and was not afraid to step up and be the voice of the County Clerks Association, testifying on its behalf,” Bailey said. “Jimmy went above and beyond serving his fellow county clerks this session and was pivotal in preventing some bad legislation from being passed. I cannot think of another county official more deserving of a diamond award this session.”