Frank Scott Jr. will be sworn in as Little Rock mayor at 2 p.m. Jan. 1 at Robinson Center, the traditional swearing day for all elected officials. But his installation may take on the grandeur of a gubernatorial inauguration.

Said a brief announcement from the city PR spokesman:

Advertisement

A reception will follow and plans are in the works for ball that evening. Details will be announced as they become available. 

I can’t recall a previous mayoral inaugural ball, but my memory is not so reliable and I’ve asked the city about that. I do know it’s always interesting to see the private contributors who pay for the gubernatorial inaugural balls. City government is big business, too.

Lamor Williams responded to my question about precedent:

Advertisement

I don’t know that there’s ever been one before. Right now he’s just asked if he can have one and folks are working to see if it’s doable. There’s been no further planning and it’s possible that it may not happen.

Be a part of something bigger

As a reader of the Arkansas Times, you know we’re dedicated to bringing you tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, we've been fighting the good fight in Little Rock and beyond – with your support, we can do even more. By becoming a subscriber or donating as little as $1 to our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage and continue to bring important stories to light. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, it's clear that our readers value our great journalism. Join us in the fight for truth.

Previous article Arkansas cannabis trade groups announce merger Next article In your guts …..