State lawmaker to receive $206K salary as Arkansas PBS director
Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate
Rep. Johnny Rye, R-Trumann, joins colleagues in congratulating Rep. Carlton Wing, R-North Little Rock, on his new role as Speaker Pro Tempore Jan. 13.
This article was first published by the Arkansas Advocate and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
The Arkansas PBS Commission approved a $206,000 salary Friday for state Rep. Carlton Wing as the agency’s new CEO and executive director starting Monday.
The commission nominated the North Little Rock Republican and House Speaker Pro Tempore to replace Courtney Pledger, who resigned in April after leading the public television network for eight years. If confirmed, Wing would be required to resign from the Arkansas Legislature, triggering a special election to finish his term through 2027. Wing announced in June that he would not run for reelection to a sixth term next year.
Commission Vice Chairman Woody Freeman told commissioners at Friday’s special-call meeting that the state allows a salary range of $155,000 to $211,000 for the executive director position. Arkansas PBS budgeted $211,000 for the role, and Freeman said he recommended $206,000 because of Wing’s “business background, his extensive media background and he’s a highly respected legislator.”
Wing is serving his fifth term in the House and is a former sports broadcaster for Little Rock’s KARK. He also co-founded the video production company Wing Media Group with his wife.
Asked by commissioners about the proposed salary, Freeman said it was the lowest compared to neighboring states. Sanji Kumpuris, who has served as interim director, said Pledger’s salary was more than $190,000, though she couldn’t recall the exact amount. Kumpuris also noted Wing would not be eligible for a merit increase next June because he was hired after the July 1 deadline to be eligible for this cycle.
Arkansas lawmakers approved merit pay raises for nearly 500 state employees in June 2024, including Pledger, whose annual salary was expected to increase from $179,999.87 to $190,961.86, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
The Arkansas PBS Commission approved Wing’s proposed salary and a motion by Gary Newton to have Wing work with the governor to ensure the interim title was bestowed to Kumpuris and that she be retroactively paid at the agreed-upon rate for the time she served in the position. Newton asked that Wing report back to the commission on these tasks at its next meeting.
