Conway attorney Frank Shaw has been appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe to the Faulkner County Quorum Court.

Shaw, who has been chairman for the Faulkner County Election Commission, will serve as the Justice of the Peace from District 8. The spot has been open since late October, and the appointment will end on Dec. 31, 2014.

"I am very grateful to the governor for the appointment," Shaw said. "I intend to work very hard with the rest of the court. I have a lot to learn."

Shaw said that he is very interested in being part of a bipartisan court, much like the one he enjoyed on the Election Commission. Shaw called himself a "fiscal conservative," and he said he would do everything he could to assist in managing the finances of the county.

Shaw, who had previously applied for a circuit court position, moved his application over to the quorum court. He said he did not solicit any letters of recommendation for the seat, but mmany elected officials and county employees did write to the governor on his behalf.

Former JP Mark Bailey, who was running for re-election, resigned his seat following a discrepancy into an address he claimed on his filing papers. Bailey still received more votes than his opponent but told Faulkner County Judge Preston Scroggin he would not serve.

The court formally declared Bailey’s seat vacant in its first meeting of 2013. At that meeting, JP Steve Goode made a formal recommendation for the governor to appoint Jack Sotallaro, saying that at that time, Sotallaro had 10 signatures of endorsement. The recommendation is a guideline for the governor, according to state officials, but it does not preclude him from making his own appointment.

Shaw spent his time in front of the Quorum Court during 2012 as part of the Election Commission during the General Election, the Primary Election and the Special Election. During the General Election, early voting was opened up in Greenbrier, Vilonia, Mayflower and Guy for the first time.