House Rep. District 81
Name: Walter Burgess
Why did you pursue the position you are running for?
I could no longer sit on the sidelines and watch our Federal government violate our God given rights. The pandemic taught us how poor federal leadership leads to inflation and violation of our rights. The state legislature may be the last line of defense to keep the Federal government in check.
What prior experience do you have that is applicable to this position? How do you plan to use this experience?
As Vice-chairman of the Bryant Planning Commission I have deep local government experience. As I was appointed by the Governor to the AEDC Science & Technology board, I have gained State Level experience. I was previously Chairman of the Arkansas STEM Coalition. This statewide non-profit gave me experience bringing different parties together for the common good.
As a business owner, I often deal with Fortune 100 companies. This has given me National and International experience (compared to my primary opponent who only has local experience).
This wide array of experience gives me the tools needed to make Saline County the best it can be.
What plans do you have to improve Saline County/ your district?
In April, I personally proposed improvements to the intersection at Chickfil-a and Lowes. I am not afraid of tackling issues others feel are impossible.
To benefit our citizens, I will support two major, long-term initiatives. I will support Metroplan’s proposed road from the Bryant Parkway area to West Little Rock. I will also support Saline County’s efforts to create it’s own source of drinking water. Both of these initiatives will save residents significant amounts of money each month on gasoline and water bills.
Arkansas’ problems are not unique to Saline County. Solving statewide challenges will also help Saline County.
Why should you get the people’s vote/ What makes you a better choice than your opponent?
It is all about experience. My local, state, national experience
(along with my age) give me a tremendous advantage over my opponent. Administering ~$4.5M annually to support Entrepreneurship and job growth has taught me how to balance budgets. As a business owner, I have learned how to make hard decisions and how to follow through. As the Chairman of a statewide non-profit (AR STEM Coalition), I learned how to unite people with different backgrounds to pursue a common goal. As Vicechairman of the Bryant Planning Commission, I fought to reduce regulations. This position is about real experience, not popularity. Name: Councilman RJ Hawk
Why did you pursue the position you are running for?
As a member of the Bryant City Council for the past 3 1/2 years, I’ve already been serving the people of District 81 at the local level. My experience in cutting taxes and local permit fees, raising police and fire pay, and maximizing tax payer dollars is something I feel will be a great asset to our legislature and to the entire district.
What prior experience do you have that is applicable to this position? How do you plan to use this experience?
To include my city council work, I’m a small business owner. I’ve owned three companies for more than 10 years now. District 81 needs a creative thinker and someone that is willing to speak up for their constituents. I’ve done just that, I have fought for our local developers when more permit fees were trying to be passed, and I spoke out against raising the water rates in Bryant.
What plans do you have to improve Saline County/ your district?
I believe first and foremost, we need to drive more business to the district. I think you can do that by showing the benefits of the CT center and cutting red tape on companies wanting to relocate to Arkansas. On top of that, we need to tap into state block grants to help the water infrastructure in both Shannon Hills and Bryant.
Why should you get the people’s vote/ What makes you a better choice than your opponent?
I believe that my record speaks for itself. I have been fighting for the people in Bryant for almost four years. I’ve been involved with local charities and community groups for most than 10 years. My passion is helping people. I would be honored to be able to keep serving the people of Bryant, Shannon Hills and Alexander at the Capitol.