State legislator reveals work ties to owner of nursing homes

A high-ranking Arkansas lawmaker disclosed Friday that he is working for nursing home magnate Michael Morton.

State Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, R-Hermitage, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he sold his one-third share of a "durable medical equipment" company he co-founded to Morton last month. Morton acquired 100 percent of the company, Mallard Medical Supply, and has retained Wardlaw as a managing employee, Wardlaw said.

"I didn't carry any cash home [from the sale]," Wardlaw said. "I got no cash out of it. I've got a job."

Wardlaw revealed the transaction in an interview as the newspaper was preparing an investigative article about his ties to one of Morton's business associates, David Norsworthy. Wardlaw and Norsworthy had been partners in the medical supply company, a fact previously unreported.

Read more: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/jan/27/legislator-reveals-work-ties-to-owner-o/