BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION on candidates.

2020-10-11 -

HOUSE 80

Charlene Fite (R)

Incumbent

• Age: 70

• Residency: Has lived in the district more than 31 years

• Employment: Retired, school psychology specialist

• Education: Post graduate work at Northeast Oklahoma State University; master’s in education, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; graduated, Taipei Language Institute, Taipei, Taiwan; bachelor’s degree in education, University of Tennessee

• Political Experience: State representatives since 2013

Lou Reed Sharp (D)

• Age: 68

• Residency: Has lived in the district for more than 17 years

• Employment: Retired, nurse and co-founder of Circle of Life Hospice; small business owner

• Education: Associate degree of science and nursing, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: Former Tontitown Planning Commission member; unsuccessful candidate for Arkansas House District 80 in 2018

HOUSE 85

David Whitaker (D)

Incumbent

• Age: 59

• Residency: Has lived in the district more than 20 years

• Employment: Attorney

• Education: Juris doctorate, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; bachelor’s in geography, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Va.

• Political Experience: State representative since 2013; unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Congress in 2010. Brian Hester (R)

• Age: 43

• Residency: Has lived in the district 18 months

• Employment: Real estate appraiser

• Education: Attended, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and North Arkansas Community College, Harrison

• None Political Experience:

HOUSE 86

Nicole Clowney (D)

Incumbent

• Age: 38

• Residency: Has lived in the district six years

• Employment: Lecturer in classical studies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Education: Juris doctorate, Yale University; master’s degree in classics, University of Kentucky, bachelor’s degree in classics, University of Chicago

• Political experience: State representative since 2019 John La Tour (R)

• Age: 64

• Residency: Has lived in the district 41 years

• Employment: Self-employed, certified public accountant, federal tax attorney

• Education: Law degree, Oak Brook College, Fresno, Calif.; master of business administration, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; bachelor of science in accounting management, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.

• Political experience: Fayetteville City Council, 20152018

HOUSE 87

Robin Lundstrum (R)

Incumbent

• Age: 57

• Residency: Has lived in district for more than 50 years

• Education: Doctorate in health sciences, master’s in community health, bachelor’s in health education, all from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Employment: Owner, Cypress Investments; partner in other businesses

• Political Experience: Elm Springs City Council 20112015; state representative since 2015 Michael Bennett-Spears (D)

• Age: 34

• Residency:

Has lived in the district for two years

• Employment: Marketing and events director

• Education: Attended, Hendrix College in Conway and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: None

HOUSE 88

Clint Penzo (R)

Incumbent

• Age: 44

• Residency: Has lived in the district five years

• Employment: Realtor, RE/ MAX Associates

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in earth sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; Associate’s degree in physical therapy, Northwest Arkansas Community College

• Political Experience: State representative since 2017; Tontitown City Council, 2013-2014 Hawley Woods (D)

• Age: 38

• Residency: Has lived in the district 18 months

• Employment: Small business owner

• Education: Completing degree in communications, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: None

HOUSE 89

Megan Godfrey (D)

Incumbent

• Age: 36

• Residency: Has lived in the district 11 years

• Employment: Educator

• Education: Currently seeking doctorate in curriculum and instruction from University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; master’s degree in elementary education, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles; bachelor’s in Spanish, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: State representative since 2019 Jed Duggar (R)

• Age: 21

• Residency: Has lived in the district for more than a year

• Employment: Owner, Champion Motorcars

• Education: High school graduate, home-schooled

• Political Experience: None

HOUSE 90

Kendon Underwood (R)

• Age: 31

• Residency: Has lived in the district four years

• Employment: Staff attorney, J.B. Hunt Transport Services

• Education: Law and political science degrees, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: Unsuccessful candidate for Arkansas House District 90 in 2018

Kelly Krout (D)

• Age: 37

• Residency: Has lived in the district for five years

• Employment: Children’s book author, graduate student

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology; working on social work graduate degree, both from University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: None

HOUSE 91

Nick Jones (D)

• Age: 39

• Residency: Has lived in the district for six years

• Employment: Substance abuse counselor, Ozark Guidance in Springdale; retired, Air Force

• Education: Master’s of science in rehabilitation counseling, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; master’s in public affairs in nonprofit management, Park University, Parkville, Mo.; bachelor’s of science in management/ international relations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.

• Political Experience: None Delia Haak (R)

• Age: 64

• Residency: Has lived in district more than 41 years

• Employment: Small business owner; executive director, Illinois River Watershed Partnership; adjunct graduate faculty, John Brown University; retired, director of graduate business programs, John Brown

• Political experience: Arkansas Pollution Control & Ecology Commission member; chairwoman of the Arkansas Oklahoma Arkansas River Compact Commission

HOUSE 93

Jim Dotson (R)

Incumbent

• Age: 42

• Residency: Has lived in the district 17 years

• Employment: Realtor and builder

• Education: Attended, Northwest Arkansas Community College

• Political Experience: State representatives since 2013; Bentonville City Council, 2009-2012 Daisy Bonilla (D)

• Age: 34

• Residency: Has lived in the district more than 14 years

• Employment: Licensed certified social worker and mental health provider, Eason Counseling and Associates

• Education: Master’s of social work, New York University; bachelor of arts, dual major in U.S. history and media and cultural studies, University of California, Riverside

• Political Experience: None

HOUSE 94

John Carr (R)

• Age: 46

• Residency: Has lived in the district for more than 15 years

• Employment: Independent information technology consultant

• Education: Master of business administration, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, University of Missouri

• Political Experience: None Jene Huffman-Gilreath (D)

• Age: 43

• Residency: Has lived in the district for 13 years

• Employment: Shared services manager, Rogers Water Utilities

• Education: Master’s in public administration and bachelor’s in small business entrepreneurship, both University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: Unsuccessful candidate for Arkansas House District 94 in 2018

HOUSE 96

Josh Bryant (R)

• Age: 42

• Residency: Has lived in the district for six years

• Employment: General contractor; former Marine, 1997-2002

• Education: Graduate, Benton County Christian School in Rogers

• Political experience: Benton County Quorum Court member since 2017 Jon Comstock (D)

• Age: 70

• Residency: Has lived in the district 12 years

• Employment: Mediator, Jon Comstock Conflict Resolution Services

• Education: Law degree, University of Tulsa; bachelor’s degree in political science, Oklahoma State University

• Political Experience: Benton County circuit judge, appointed, 2011 through 2012; unsuccessful candidate for state Senate, 2018

SENATE 1

Ronetta Francis (D)

• Age: 55

• Residency: Has lived in the district for more than 13 years

• Employment: Independent certified executive coach, speaker and trainer; author

• Education: Juris doctorate, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University; master of arts in clinical psychology, Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.; bachelor of science in psychology, University of Alabama

• Political Experience: None Bart Hester (R) Incumbent

• Age: 42

• Residency: Has lived in the district six years

• Employment: Contractor and real estate agent

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Political Experience: State senator since 2013

SENATE 2

Jim Hendren (R) Incumbent

• Age: 57

• Residency: Lifelong resident of district except for duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1984 to 1992

• Employment: Owner, Hendren Plastics; retired colonel, Air National Guard

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville