Copyright Arkansas Online

Your browser does not support the audio element. Karen Buchanan, the vice chair of the Little Rock housing authority's board of commissioners, blasted members of the Little Rock Board of Directors on Tuesday for their recent decision to deny her reappointment to the panel that oversees the Metropolitan Housing Alliance. Buchanan used her allotted time during the citizen communication portion of Tuesday's Board of Directors meeting to push back on the notion that she lacked business experience, something that was cited by City Directors Joan Adcock and Lance Hines during an Oct. 6 meeting. At that meeting, Buchanan's reappointment to a full five-year term on the housing authority's board was rejected in a 6-2 decision, with two city directors absent. In addition to Adcock and Hines, City Directors Dean Kumpuris, Kathy Webb and Capi Peck as well as Vice Mayor B.J. Wyrick voted no. City Directors Andrea Lewis and Virgil Miller Jr. voted in favor of Buchanan's reappointment. City Directors Ken Richardson and Antwan Phillips were absent. Sitting members of the housing authority's board make recommendations on appointments or reappointments, which then are sent to the city's Board of Directors. The housing authority's board voted unanimously on Sept. 25 to recommend Buchanan be reappointed. On Tuesday, Buchanan told city officials that she was not coming before them to ask them to reconsider her reappointment, because her grandmother had taught her not to stay where you don't belong. Instead, she sought to "expose the lies" that Adcock told during the earlier meeting in an attempt to "destroy my reputation, my credibility," Buchanan said. Additionally, she wanted to "expose the unprofessional and unethical manner in which six members of the board handled their responsibilities," she said. She cited her experience and education, including three degrees and 60 hours of postgraduate education beyond her master's degree. Buchanan previously served as the principal at four Little Rock School District schools and as the superintendent of the Lee County School District, she said. She also previously held a real estate license. In reality, she has owned three businesses -- a tutoring service, a child development center and currently KBON Rentals LLC -- Buchanan said. "Five of you chose not to verify this fact," she said. "Director Adcock falsely told you that only one person on the board had a business." Buchanan had to end her remarks after the three-minute time limit expired. The situation had led her to question the integrity of some board members, Buchanan said in conclusion. During the Oct. 6 meeting, Hines said he appreciated Buchanan's service but would not support her reappointment. Hines suggested, "We need someone with a little different background from a business perspective." Adcock called Buchanan "a lovely lady," adding that she "has done a great job, but we need someone with business experience. On that whole board, you have one businessman. And when you are discussing the type of money, discussing the types of needs that that board has, we need more people that have a history of being in business or being able to read the documents of business." Miller and Mayor Frank Scott Jr. argued in favor of Buchanan's reappointment. Buchanan's term expired on Sept. 30, although state law allows sitting housing authority commissioners whose term has expired to continue to serve until a successor has been appointed. The housing authority's board has 30 days from the time it receives written notice of the rejection to appoint another person, according to state law. A failure to make an appointment within the 30-day period means the Board of Directors can appoint someone. All five commissioners serving on the housing authority's board were appointed between 2023 and 2024. In 2022, the Board of Directors denied the reappointment of then-Chair Kenyon Lowe Sr., ultimately replacing Lowe with Kerry Wright in March 2023. Buchanan was named to the housing authority's board in October 2023 along with Bruce James shortly after the Board of Directors removed H. Lee Lindsey and Leta Anthony, who were serving as the chair and vice chair. Monty Baugh and Stacie Brown were appointed to the board the following year. Adcock could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday. Wright, the current chair of the housing authority's board, said on Wednesday that Buchanan "had no right to go after Joan Adcock. Joan Adcock didn't do a thing to her."