‘More Work To Do,’ Says Fite In Re-Election Run

SEEKING HER THIRD TERM WILL BENEFIT DISTRICT 80, STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS

Recently State Rep. Charlene Fite who represents western Washington County and a portion of western Crawford County, sat down over lunch to discuss her announcement for a third term in the Arkansas Legislature.

The tall and well-versed former educator was both humbled to have served the past two terms as a Republican House member, but also conveyed an air of confidence about the accomplishments of the 89th and 90th General Assemblies and looking forward to the 91st General Assembly after the 2016 General Election.

Make no bones about it: Fite is in full campaign mode for her re-election campaign.

“I am humbled to be serving in the State House for District 80,” she said. “And I want to continue that service to the people of District 80. They are some of the hardest working, nicest people in Arkansas. I am sure of it.”

Over a dutch-treat lunch, Fite, who is a stickler for the revised state Ethics Commission rules and regulations, quietly ate her noon- day fare while fielding questions both in and outside of this published column.

With the 2014 Republican landslide, where all the state’s seven Constitutional officers were changed to the GOP, Fite says things in Little Rock have changed in favor of Republican lawmakers. But still, she says, there remains a constant challenge at providing the necessary services for all Arkansans.

Deep within her heart there is a sense of protection for the children and youth of the state, which dates back to her days as a foreign missionary, later as a wife and mom and now as a proud grandmother.

As a member of the powerful Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee, she also sits on the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs committee. Both are considered plum committee assignments intended for studious, hardworking legislators who are in touch with myriad state agencies involved in all aspects of laws, rules and regulations affecting children and families.

The work of these committees, Fite admitted, is often left out of the headlines, but has consequences that reach far into the future by the tweaking of rules, laws and regulations.

“It is important work, work that often requires listening to the state agencies and then weighing the comments of the public and the outcome of what is best for the children in many situations, too many to even begin to name,” she said in the interview.

Fite, a devout Christian, said even when working in the Fort Smith Public Schools, where she retired in 2012, she saw many examples of a decaying social environment and its devastating effects on children.

With a new GOP Governor elected, Fite said there was much more cooperation within the House to listen and give this new governor a chance to set a new standard in governance in Arkansas. “That does not mean that at all times, we as Republicans agree with the Governor, but it does make communication easier between the executive mansion and the House at times we disagree.”

One time which Fite found herself and a very popular bill on opposite sides of Hutchinson was over the move to exempt military retirement pay from state income taxes. Hutchinson asked Fite not to try and push the bill as Hutchinson’s overall state budget could not sustain the cuts.

The bill did not advance, but Fite says there is still strong support for the bill to lure retired military men and women to retire in Arkansas.

“Other states have done this and seen growth in small businesses and their tax base of new homes, farms and ranches purchased by these retirees.”

In the past session, Fite passed some 22 bills into law and has been recognized by several organizations, including Arkansas Family Council for her work on the protection of conservative values as a Legislator.

Fite and her husband, Tom, live in the Figure Five community, north of Van Buren.

She’s ready for a third run to the state House on a strong record built by hard work and dedicated service to District 80 she said.

I agree.