Arkansas Gov. Michael Beebe has picked Jay Bradford, a former insurance executive and state lawmaker, to succeed Julie Benafield Bowman as the state's insurance commissioner.
Bradford has served for the past 2 years as Division of Behavioral Sciences director in the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
Beebe, who took office in January 2007, is a Democrat.
Bowman, who was appointed by former Gov. Michael Huckabee, R, resigned last week. She was chief executive officer of the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission before becoming insurance commissioner.
Chief Deputy Commissioner Lenita Blasingame is serving as interim commissioner. She will return to her original post once Bradford is sworn in, officials say.
