Arkansas Democrats hire director with Montana ties

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – The Arkansas Democratic Party has hired a former official with the party in Montana to be its new executive director.

The party announced Monday it had hired Ted Dick as executive director, replacing Candace Martin in the post. Dick will begin working for the party on Sept. 8.

Dick has been a campaign manager for state and federal candidates and worked as the Montana Democratic Party’s executive director. He has also worked for the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.

He’s taking over the job months after Republicans swept statewide and congressional offices in the November election. The GOP has made gains in the state in recent years by tying Democrats to President Barack Obama, who remains deeply unpopular in Arkansas.