LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas Treasurer Mark Lowery is leaving office in September after suffering two strokes in the past few months, his office announced Tuesday.
Lowery, a Republican who took office in January, will retire on Sept. 30. The state treasurer will be run by a chief of staff and a deputy treasurer until Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders nominated the place, her office said.
“Treasurer Lowery has been a dedicated public servant and has had a successful political and professional career spanning 30 years. We are very sad to see him retire, and his leadership will be missed.” Chief of Staff Stephen Bright said in a statement.
Lowery received two strokes, one in March and one in June. Following the first stroke, Lowery spent several weeks recuperating in Arkansas before recuperating with his daughter in Maryland. Lowery’s office described the second stroke as his worst and said it led him and his family to decide to announce his retirement.
Lowery’s family said in a statement: “It was the joy of his life traveling Arkansas and building lasting relationships with voters across the state.” Lowery’s family said in a statement: “Every minute of every day he lived his dream of serving others and fighting for Arkans.”
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The Arkansas treasurer oversees state investments and serves on several panels including public employee trust boards and teacher retirement systems.
Before being elected treasurer in November, Lowery served 10 years in the state House.
Lowery sponsored a 2017 law that reinstated the state’s requirement that voters show photo identification before being allowed to vote. The previous voter ID law was struck down by the state Supreme Court, but the justices in 2018 upheld Lowery’s reform.
Lowery also supported the 2021 law that would have removed the ability of people without identification to vote, even if they signed an affidavit confirming their identity.
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