A 26-year-old woman, who according to her Facebook profile attended Monticello High School, has been linked to cell phone records of fired Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino.
The Arkansas News Bureau reported Alison Melder, a state Senate Republican assistant who worked on Jim Keet’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign, exchanged more than 200 text and photo messages with Petrino, as shown in the coach’s phone records released by the UA.
Petrino was fired Tuesday after he initially failed to notify UA athletic director Jeff Long that Jessica Dorrell, 25, a student-athlete development coordinator since May, rode with the coach and married father of four when he was injured in a motorcycle accident near Fayetteville. Petrino later admitted to an inappropriate relationship with Dorrell, who reportedly exchanged more than 4,300 texts and almost 300 phone calls with Petrino.
Melder’s mother, who would not give her name, said via phone Thursday evening “the issue is being blown out of proportion” because Petrino was fired. The mother declined to comment further and said Melder’s attorney, whom she also would not identify — saying “It doesn’t matter” in response — would make a statement. The number dialed was listed as a Monticello number.
The Commercial also left an unreturned message for Melder with a woman who answered at the Republican Party of Arkansas’ office. Melder’s previous listing on the Arkansas Young Republicans website as the national committeewoman was removed Thursday, according to the Arkansas News Bureau.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
But the news service also reported that Republican Party of Arkansas spokeswoman Katherine Vasilos said Melder’s employment status is “under review” and that Melder has “various duties, no specific job title” as a part-time employee.
Melder is a senior political science major at Arkansas-Little Rock, it was also reported, citing a UALR spokeswoman. Her Facebook profile lists that she lives in Little Rock.
It also lists her as a member of the Monticello High School class of 2003, her political views as Republican and the Razorbacks among her favorite sports teams. Among her favorite athletes are Razorbacks-turned-professionals Ryan Mallett, a quarterback with the New England Patriots, and Joe Johnson, an Atlanta Hawks star.
Melder also is a model who won Miss Bikini USA and Miss Motorcycle Mania in 2008, according to her profile on www.talentfinder.tv.
The International Business Times website reported Petrino is not listed as a member of or contributed to the (GOP), “which reduces the chances that their contact was professional in nature.”