Incoming Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Names Transition and Senior Staff Ahead of Jan. 10 Inauguration

December 5-11, 2022

By The Daily Record Staff

After a convincing win on Nov. 8 with 63% of the statewide vote in the race for the state’s highest office, Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders has quickly moved to shore up her transition team ahead of her Jan. 10 inauguration.

Two days after her historic victory as has Arkansas’ first woman elected governor, Sanders named longtime Little Rock attorney Kevin Crass as her executive director of her transition team, along with the appointment of nine other staff members. 

Crass is a senior partner in the Litigation Practice Group at Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP. Crass focuses his practice on significant, complex business litigation in federal and state court. Kevin has experience in handling the defense of national and state class actions in state and federal courts. Kevin also provides clients with representation before governmental bodies and counsels them in regulatory matters. Kevin has served as personal counsel to several of the state’s constitutional officers.

A 1981 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and a 1984 graduate of the UA Little Rock School of Law, he previously served on the Board of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Bar Association. He also previously served on the Federal Practice Committee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, having been appointed by the judges in that district. He also currently serves on the Board of Visitors of the UA Little Rock, Chair of the War Memorial Stadium Commission, and past Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“Kevin Crass has been a trusted friend and accomplished attorney for many years, and I am pleased to announce that he has agreed to serve as the Executive Director of the transition,” Sanders said. “Kevin brings significant knowledge and relationships to this role, and I have complete confidence in his abilities to help me be ready to assume the role of governor on day one and begin taking our state to the top. Kevin will also be assisted in this important work by several individuals who were a part of our historic victory on election night and who bring their own incredible experiences and expertise. There is a lot of work to do and a short time to do it, but this team will get it done.”

In other key roles, Sanders named Gretchen Conger as her incoming Chief of Staff in the governor’s office. Conger, who is currently serving as deputy director of Sanders’ transition office, also served as senior advisor on the historic Sarah for Governor campaign, where she was responsible for the development of Sanders’ policy priorities and agenda. 

Prior to joining the campaign in 2021, Conger worked for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey for nearly seven years, both as his legislative director and deputy chief of staff. Before joining the Ducey administration, Conger was the vice president of public policy at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where she led pro-business policies at the state legislature and congressional delegation.

“Gretchen Conger’s proven experience and leadership from her time in the Arizona governor’s office makes her the perfect choice to serve as my Chief of Staff,” Sanders said. “Her dedication during the campaign to develop policy plans and initiatives, as well as her enthusiasm to get to know Arkansans, will help me usher in my bold agenda to take Arkansas to the top and build an incredible, talented team to serve the people of our state.” 

Sanders also said she will transfer more than $2.5 million from her 2022 campaign to her 2026 re-election and announced that longtime Huckabee family friend and campaign manager Chris Caldwell would assume the role of senior advisor for her re-election.

“My victory this month would not have been possible without Chris and the incredible team he assembled, which is why I am pleased that he has agreed to ensure I am well-positioned for re-election in 2026,” Sanders said. “I cannot thank Chris enough for his candid advice over these many years and his leadership of my campaign. I look forward to our continued work together to make Arkansas a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Sanders also announced several key roles that will make up her senior gubernatorial staff, including the following positions:

Deputy Chief of Staff Judd P. Deere joined the Sarah for Governor campaign this summer as communications director and has continued in that same capacity in the Governor-elect’s transition office. He is a former White House Deputy Press Secretary for President Donald J. Trump and brings more than a decade of political communications experience at both the national and state levels. Before returning to Arkansas, Judd served as deputy chief of staff for communications to U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (Tenn.). He has also worked for U.S. Senators John Boozman (Ark.) and Mike Crapo (Idaho), as well as Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and the Tim Griffin for Arkansas campaign in 2014. Judd is a Benton native and graduate of Lyon College.

Deputy Chief of Staff Kelly Eichler served as policy director for Gov. Asa Hutchinson and as criminal justice advisor for Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sanders’ father. Huckabee appointed her to serve a 7-year term on the state Board of Corrections. Prior to government service, she clerked at the Arkansas Court of Appeals, was a Pulaski County prosecutor, and was in private practice for Rice, Adams and Pace. Kelly currently serves as a University of Arkansas Trustee, appointed by Hutchinson. She is a University of Arkansas and William H. Bowen School of Law graduate. 

Chief Legal Counsel Andrew “Vu” Ritchie, who is currently serving as deputy director of the transition and previously served as general counsel to the Sarah for Governor campaign. He brings years of legal, legislative, and political experience at both the national and state levels. Vu is a Little Rock native and graduate of the University of Arkansas Walton School of Business, and he received his Juris Doctorate from the William H. Bowen School of Law. During his time in Washington, D.C., Vu also served in the Trump administration at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid as senior advisor in the Office of Administrator Seema Verma. Before moving to Washington D.C., Vu served as legal counsel and senior advisor to Gov. Asa. Hutchinson. 

Communications Director Judd P. Deere who served in the same capacity on the Sarah for Governor campaign is a former White House Deputy Press Secretary for former President Donald J. Trump and brings more than a decade of political communications experience at both the national and state levels. Before returning to Arkansas this summer, Judd served as Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (Tenn.). He has also worked for U.S. Senators John Boozman (Ark.) and Mike Crapo (Idaho), as well as Arkansas Lt. Governor Tim Griffin and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. Judd is a Benton native and graduate of Lyon College.

Director of Public Affairs Jordan Powell, who served as deputy campaign manager for the Sarah for Governor campaign and is currently external affairs director in the transition. He is a campaign strategist who has served as a consultant, communications advisor, ad maker, and digital expert for gubernatorial, congressional, state house, and issue campaigns across the country. He has also served as a press secretary on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. In 2016, Jordan also served as deputy campaign manager for former Gov. Huckabee’s presidential campaign.

Legislative Director Jamie Barker joined the transition team after serving as political director on the Sarah for Governor campaign. He was born and raised in Smackover and has worked on campaigns for U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (Ark.) and Gov. Hutchinson, as well as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s 2016 presidential campaign. Jamie has also previously served as political director for the Republican Party of Arkansas. He is a past chairman of the Arkansas Federation of Young Republicans and past member of the state party’s executive committee.

Policy Director Jack Sisson, who served as a policy advisor on the Sarah for Governor campaign, is a public affair professional and consultant with more than 15 years of experience at the state and federal levels. In Washington, D.C., he served as health policy advisor to U.S. Sen. John Boozman. Sisson also worked as an advisor to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and as campaign manager for Rep. French Hill, R- Little Rock.

Boards & Commissions Director Alex Flemister joins the transition after serving as director of operations on the Sarah for Governor campaign. He has spent his career in both the public and private sectors. Before joining the campaign, Flemister served as associate director for the White House Office of Public Liaison under former President Trump where he was the liaison for the business, veteran, and AAPI communities. He is a Little Rock native and a graduate of the University of Arkansas.  

Photo Caption:

1. Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders (center) on the campaign trail with her family ahead of her huge election win on Nov. 8. Sanders, a Republican, will be inaugurated as Arkansas’ first woman governor on Jan. 10.