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 Amid a fight that has national political implications, Darr, a
Republican and political newcomer, said in a statement that his focus was
on putting things right with the people of Arkansas.
"He will not resign," Amber Pool, Darr's communications director,
told Reuters.
Darr accepted the Ethics Commission's finding on Monday of 11
violations. They included the conversion of campaign funds for
personal use, improper expense reimbursements from public funds and
inadequate record keeping.
The sums totaled about $50,000. Darr agreed to pay $11,000 in fines
to settle the Commission's case, but a state prosecutor is weighing
criminal charges.
Governor Mike Beebe, a Democrat, told reporters on Tuesday he had
telephoned Darr to request his resignation, saying it was "in
everybody's interest" and that Darr's response was "disappointing."
Darr was swept into office in 2010 on a wave of opposition to
President Barack Obama, a Democrat who is deeply unpopular in
Arkansas.
The fight carries national weight because Arkansas is one of the few
Southern states where Democrats have been able to challenge
Republicans who dominate the region.
Beebe cannot seek re-election as governor in the 2014 election after
reaching a limit of two terms in office, leaving the race wide open.
U.S. Senator Mark Pryor, a Democrat, is in a tough fight for his
seat from the state against the presumptive Republican nominee, U.S.
Representative Tom Cotton.
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Beebe piled pressure on Darr by saying that two other state
officials, both Democrats, resigned their offices in 2013 when faced
with similar accusations.
Darr has not said whether he will seek re-election next year as
lieutenant governor. Two Republicans are seeking the party's
nomination for the post.
(Editing by Jon Herskovitz, Ian Simpson and James Dalgleish)
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