Arkansas Dem Gov. Mike Beebe Asks GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Darr To Resign

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe (D) is calling on Lt. Gov. Mark Darr (R) to resign, citing ethics commission findings that Darr likely violated campaign spending rules, the AP reports.

"I think it's in everyone's best interest, including Mr. Darr, if he resign," Beebe said, according to the AP.

An Arkansas ethics commission ruled that Darr had broken 11 campaign finance laws since 2010. The AP reports:

Graham Sloan, the commission's executive director, released a letter Monday that said commissioners had voted 4-0, with one abstention, to find probable cause that Darr violated portions of the Arkansas code 11 times.

The panel said it determined that Darr had made personal use of $31,572.74 of his campaign funds, received excess contributions to retire his campaign debt, didn't maintain adequate records, failed to itemize loan repayments and accepted improper reimbursement for travel expenses.

It suggested $1,000 fines for each of the 11 complaints upheld and gave Darr the option of accepting its findings or fighting them.

According to KATV, Beebe said he called Darr to request his resignation on Wednesday morning. Beebe called Darr's refusal to resign "disappointing."

In a statement to CNN, Darr said acknowledged his "mistakes" but didn't react to the calls for his resignation.

"The mistakes I made have been well documented," Darr said. "My focus now is on making things right with the people of Arkansas."

For more, see the AP's report here.