The still-unfolding news about Mike Mills‘ unceremonious departure after a notably brief stint at the head of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism looks to have churned up a number of interesting spinoffs.

For instance, a scoop in Tuesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette by reporter Will Langhorne revealed an intriguing detail that begs further investigation. An email from Mills indicates that Mills, a member of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ cabinet, had to go through first gent Bryan Sanders‘ chief of staff if he wanted face time with the governor.

“I understand that for me to meet with the Governor I start with you. I am looking for that meeting,” Mills said in an email to Teddy Stewart, chief of staff to the first gentleman, Bryan Sanders …

While it’s normal and standard for cabinet-level departments to have a liaison in the governor’s office, it’s not normal and standard for that person to be in the first spouse’s employ. And as Blue Hog blogger Matt Campbell turned up today, it’s also pretty unusual for those liaisons to make six figures, like Stewart here.

Of these, only Ortiz was a state employee prior to January 2023. The rest are new w/ Sarah.

Yet Ortiz, with 4 years experience, makes $10K less than Tucker, despite the same position title and pay grade? What the hell? pic.twitter.com/S40xsLYcZc

— Blue Hog Report (@BlueHogReport) June 21, 2023