The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands is an executive position and constitutional officer within the Arkansas government which has been an elective post since 1874. Land Commissioners are elected to four year terms. The current state Land Commissioner is Republican Tommy Land.A Brief History. Office of the Arkansas Commissioner of State LandsJohn Thurston, Commissioner of State Lands . Office of the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands
Powers and duties The Land Commissioner is responsible for collecting delinquent taxes on real estate through public auction whenever parcels are certified as such by county tax collectors. The proceeds from each sale of tax delinquent property are dedicated to public schools throughout the state. The Land Commissioner also serves as leasing agent for oil, natural gas, sand and gravel deposits on state lands, administers the beds of navigable rivers and streams, and is custodian of Arkansas' original land records.
History The position was created by the Arkansas General Assembly as the Commissioner of Immigration and State Lands in 1868. had control over public works in the state, which eventually included road improvements. Under the Arkansas Constitution of 1874, the position became an elected office. The highway duties were so important to the position it was referred to as the Highway Commissioner everywhere except official state documents.
In 1929, the General Assembly passed a measure to abolish the position of Highway Commissioner as an elected office in response to corruption in the highway system. However, the measure did not have authority to abolish a constitutional office. The General Assembly instead assigned the highway-related duties to the Arkansas State Highway Commission, which became an appointed office. Dwight Blackwood, the incumbent office holder, transitioned to the State Highway Commission, and his sister, Belva Martin was appointed to the State Land Commissioner position. She won election in her own right in 1930, but did not seek reelection in 1932. Martin was the first woman to seek the Democratic nomination for a statewide office in Arkansas, and as of February 2018, she remains the only female to hold the office.
List of Arkansas Commissioners of State Lands Name Party Service Notes1 None July 2, 1868 – October 15, 18722 Republican October 15, 1872 – June 5, 18743 Democratic June 5, 1874 – November 18, 1878 First elected Commissioner4 Democratic October 31, 1878 – October 30, 1882 5 Democratic October 30, 1882 – March 31, 1884 6 Democratic March 31, 1884 – February 1890 Died in office7 Democratic February 12, 1890 – October 30, 1894 Initially appointed, seated via election October 30, 18908 Democratic October 30, 1894 – October 30, 1898 9 Democratic October 30, 1898 – October 30, 1902 10 Democratic October 30, 1902 – October 30, 1906 11 Democratic October 31, 1906 – October 31, 1910 12 Democratic October 31, 1910 – October 31, 1914 Beginning April 1, 1913 led the Department of State Lands, Highways, and Improvements13 Democratic November 1, 1914 – January 1, 1921 14 Democratic January 1, 1921 – January 1, 1927 15 Democratic 1927–1929 Resigned16 Democratic 1929–1933 Initially appointed, later seated via election, first Commissioner of State Lands17 Democratic 1933–1937 18 Democratic 1937–1943 19 Democratic 1943 20 Democratic 1943–1954 Died in office21 Democratic 1954–1957 22 Democratic 1957–1981 23 Democratic 1981–1985 24 Democratic 1985–2003 25 Democratic 2003–2011 25 Republican 2011–2019 26 Republican 2019–Present
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References
External links Commissioner of State Lands – State of Arkansas