Democratic Chair Ready For 2014

TYLER CLARK IN THIRD TERM AS COUNTY CHAIRMAN

Editor’s note:

This is the second of a two-part series on the leadership of the two major political parties in Washington County. He is one busy guy. That’s more than one person’s description of Tyler Clark of Fayetteville, 33, the youthful, energetic chairman of the Washington County Democratic Party.

Clark’s work and enthusiasm has also caught the eye of the state party leaders in Little Rock, who awarded him with the Harold B. Jenks Democratic Man of the Year Award in 2013.

A native of Springdale, Clark has lived and worked in Fayetteville for the past 20 years.

He is community development director at the Community Clinic at St. Francis House.

First elected to chair the Democratic Party in December 2011, Clark has been elected annually.

Clark has only sought out one elective office — that of county chairman.

He joins other officers of the Democratic Party of Washington County, Elizabeth Prenger, vice chairman; Lauren Marquette, treasurer, and Brandon Maxey, secretary.

Clark points out that two years ago the Democratic Party of Arkansas extended party rules to remove limitations on county committee membership.

“We have 120 paid members of the WCD. We continuously recruit members to support the Washington County Democrats. Some members have donated funds to ensure that the biennial $30 filing fee did not inhibit those who want to become members. We feel that our county should be a total representation of our county,” said Clark.

In the upcoming election cycle of 2014, Clark said the Democratic Committee’s philosophy is to build from local races up to state and national races.

“It has always been my philosophy to build support for our county officers and then move upwards. In recent years, Democrats have lost their positions in county government. Our team works tirelessly to recruit candidates for every county position,” Clark said. “We are committed to vetting and assisting the best candidates possible.”

On the state and local level he said, “County parties are best positioned to help the state party to provide on the ground support for State Representative, State Senate and Constitutional positions.”

The party will be all inclusive, Clark said.

“The beauty of the Democratic Party is that our members come from all walks of life and philosophies.

We are not defined by one single issue and we have a variety of opinions.

A candidate should not be discarded because of a previous voting history.”

Clark said he does not expect any “in-party primary races for State House or in the local Washington County positions in 2014.”

He is supporting a proposal to move all county positions to four-year terms.

“I do support a four-year term for County officers. Mostly for consistency in policy and government.”

Clark, who says he is a liberal with a strong belief in equality for all, said he enjoys good communications with the party’s chair and staff down in Little Rock.

“I am in weekly communication with the DPA team in Little Rock. Former Chairman Bond was very supportive of our efforts in NWA and our new chair, Vince Insalaco, has no plans to change that strategy.

Northwest Arkansas has more than one-fourth of the legislators in our backyard.

Supporting Democratic candidates in NWA is pivotal to the growth and the success of the party in Arkansas.”

No newbie to the political process, Clark predicts one phrase for the 2014 election cycle. “Lots of hard work.”

The Washington County Democratic Central Committee meets on the third Monday at 6 p.m. at the meeting room of the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks.

Clark can be reached by email at Washcodemocrats@gmail.com.