Griffin discusses his ‘hyperactive’ leadership style, review of gun laws

FAYETTEVILLE — Attorney General Tim Griffin said Friday he sees his job as finding ways to “fix stuff.”

Griffin spoke to the Political Animals Club of Northwest Arkansas.

“I don’t have any real interest in talking about politics,” Griffin said. “I thought I’d talk about my job.”

Griffin said his focus has been on restructuring the office and instilling his own leadership philosophy. Any large organization will have a culture that reflects the values and examples of those at the top, whether they are “low-energy” or “hyperactive,” he said.

“I tend to be hyperactive,” he said.

Griffin said his military background led him to want to be more proactive than reactive. He said many agencies wait until something is brought to their attention before considering it.

“In the Army, a general used to say leaders need to fix stuff,” Griffin said. “Just look around and fix stuff. Don’t get caught up in whether it’s your role or not.”

Griffin said his plans to review the state’s gun laws and the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act are examples of being proactive. He said the state’s gun laws are “overly complex and confusing.”

“You can’t just read them and know what they say,” he said.

Griffin said he believes the Freedom of Information Act needs to be reviewed regularly to ensure it adapts to changes in society and especially in technology. He said he wants to give his recently formed working group time to do its job.

“I’m not going to prejudge anything,” he said.

Griffin also discussed the decision to buy the 12-story Boyle Building in Little Rock to eventually house his offices and others. He said renovating the century-old building for use by his office will save the state money now used to rent space and will also benefit revitalization efforts in downtown Little Rock.

Griffin, 54, was elected attorney general in November. The Republican previously served eight years as lieutenant governor.

Asked before his talk to the group about Thursday’s arrest of former President Donald Trump, Griffin said he expects to be involved in presidential politics but had nothing to say at this time.

Griffin’s focus on his job as attorney general instead of politics was appreciated by David Alphin of Fayetteville.

“There were a lot of things I didn’t know about how his office operates,” Alphin said.

Evelyn Rios Stafford, a Washington County justice of the peace, also appreciated Griffin’s talk.

“He kept it kind of politically neutral,” Stafford said.

Stafford said she did come away from the talk with some questions about the purchase of the Boyle Building.

“I would like to know if the taxpayers are going to end up with any additional ongoing costs related to the maintenance and upkeep of a building that old after it’s purchased,” she said. “What’s that going to cost?”