Fite Seeking Re-election In District 80

REPUBLICAN MAKES LOW-KEY ANNOUNCEMENT

State Rep. Charlene Fite of Van Buren has announced she is seeking re-election in 2014, as the state Representative from District 80, which includes Western Washington County and most of Northwest Crawford County.

Fite made her re-election notice with little or no public fanfare, much the same way she quietly went about serving downstate in Little Rock.

As a first-term state representative, Fite did amass quite a reputation for understanding the process of legislation — helping pass a dozen bills and being a co-sponsor of many more for state agencies.

The retired public school teacher, who was a specialist in school psychology, has been honored by several organizations since the 2013 regular session has adjourned.

In 2012, Fite faced a Republican primary challenge in Terry Bibbs of Van Buren. She then defeated Democratic challenger Jack Norton of Lincoln in the November General Election.

During the 2013 Legislative Session, Fite was a member of the House Judiciary Committee. She also served on the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committee and the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology.

She and her husband Tom, a retired small business owner, have six grown children, and live in Van Buren.

One aspect of her campaign for office and her service down in Little Rock was listening to groups who needed help for equipment and incidental needs through General Improvement Funds. Those are funds available after all the taxpayer supported needs such as schools, prisons and state agency budgets are met.

“I have tried to use this GIF money where it will do the most good in the community,” Fite said in a news release. “There may be others that apply and will be added to this list in the future.”

“The theory behind GIF money is that the representatives are closest to the people of the district and best know the needs. Therefore I sought input from community leaders in order to make wise decisions,” she said.

In an email, Fite provided a list of those getting General Improvement Funds. There are other organizations that have applied for GIF funds, but have not yet been approved by the Northwest Planning and Development District, she said.

Those who have received the funds and the amounts are: Prairie Grove Police Department: $29,000 for new police vehicle

Prairie Grove Senior Center: $1,000

Teen Challenge , located in Morrow: $1,000

City of Lincoln: $10,000 for fencing for new fun park and the square and a program, Coats for Kids

The CALL of Washington and Benton Counties: $1,000 for children’s clothing closet and to train potential foster and adoptive parents

The CALL of Crawford County: $1,000 for children’s clothing closet and to train potential foster and adoptive parents

Court Appointed Advocates (CASA) of Crawford County and CASA of Washington County: $1,000 each to train volunteer workers to be the child’s voice in the court system

Walton Arts Center for “Digging in AR” school programs in Washington County: $500.

Natural Dam Community Development Council: $2,000 for building repairs.

Reynolds Cancer Support House: $1,000 and the Washington County Cancer Support Home: $1,000 for wigs, ostomy supplies, support groups.

The Country Doctors Museum, Lincoln: $1,000 for building improvements

“In addition, there are 19 rural fire departments in my district that will be receiving money,” Fite said in the email, adding the Senior Center in Lincoln, Senior Center in Cedarville, Cedarville Library, Cane Hill Museum will be receiving funds once all paperwork has been completed and approved.”