Jay Bradford, a former insurance executive and state lawmaker will become Arkansas insurance commissioner next Thursday, Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe has announced.

Mr. Bradford, who has served for the past two years as Division of Behavioral Sciences director in the Arkansas Department of Human Services, replaces Commissioner Julie Benafield Bowman, who resigned last week.

Ms. Bowman, who was chief executive officer of the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission before becoming commissioner, was an appointee of former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Chief Deputy Commissioner Lenita Blasingame was tapped to serve as interim commissioner until Wednesday when Ms. Bowman's term officially expires. Ms. Blasingame will return to her original post once Bradford is sworn in

The governor's announcement said that Mr. Bradford of Pine Bluff, Ark, worked in the insurance industry for more than four decades, including 30 years as founder and chairman of First Arkansas Insurance Group in Pine Bluff.

Mr. Bradford also served more than two decades in the Arkansas Legislature, both as House speaker and Senate president. His appointment as commissioner will expire Jan. 14, 2013.

The American Insurance Association insurance trade group released a statement saying Mr. Bradford's “private sector experience coupled with his extensive legislative leadership on insurance issues will prove beneficial to consumers and insurers alike.”

Special Reports /

Former Insurance Exec Named Arkansas Commissioner

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