The 87th General Assembly
is in recess

Friday, July 9, 2010

Rural sourcing to Arkansas

Here's a CNN Money article about "rural sourcing" -- sending employment opportunities to job hungry places in America rather than India -- with an emphasis on Jonesboro, Arkansas. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have skilled, low-cost labor that actually can compete with places like India and China, but broadband internet, increased infrastructure, etc., makes Arkansas a prime candidate for this trend. Good read.


Thursday, July 8, 2010

Special election set for House District 21

Governor Beebe has set a special election for the open seat being vacated by Rep. Steve Cole, who resigned on June 30 to become chancellor of Cossatot Community College of the UofA. My first cousin Nate Steel won the primary for the seat and will take office in January with no Republican challenger.

Of course, he'd like to become the representative of the seat now to hit the ground running -- and it certainly wouldn't hurt seniority wise. The governor set the election for October 12. Political party nominees will be chosen by convention. The person elected to fill the vacancy shall serve the remainder of the present term of office, which ends in January. The deadline for party conventions to select nominees shall be August 6, 2010; the deadline for parties to submit certificates of nomination shall be August 9; 2010; party candidates shall file certificates of nomination with the Secretary of State on or before August 13, 2010.


Wednesday, July 7, 2010

States’ cumulative budget shortfall likely to reach $140 billion

Here's a link to a recent study on state budgets by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. States are likely to see the largest shortfall yet in this recession, and closing this gap in many states will have severe effects on services and jobs.


Local perspective on Kagan confirmation hearings

Here's video of UALR Law School Dean John DiPippa discussing the Kagan confirmation on Today's THV


Thursday, July 1, 2010

Hello, July

I'm back after a brriief hiatus to get elected to the Senate and to take some time to get caught up here at the office. Thanks for waiting patiently, and I'm eager to join the Arkansas blog scene again.


Thursday, June 3, 2010

Four States Living Magazine

I'm still recovering from the election and transitioning back to my law practice for a bit while I stay tuned to the run-off elections taking place around the state. Here's the cover of the June Four States Living, which hit the racks yesterday:


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Thank You!

Complete but unofficial results in my bid for the state senate have me with 54% of the vote. It was a long, hard campaign, and I look forward to serving in the state senate. Thanks to each of you who helped make this happen. Scroll down for election results.



Election results:

Miller County


Precinct
Harrelson
Cowling
Bradfield52 (74%)19 (26%)
College Hill Middle School148 (74%)53 (26%)
Washington127 (88%)18 (12%)
Ozan Inghram96 (77%)28 (23%)
Sandflat60 (76%)19 (24%)
Hickory Street85 (75%)28 (25%)
Grand144 (71%)58 (29%)
Arkansas Blvd.101 (76%)32 (24%)
North Heights316 (77%)93 (23%)
Trice158 (75%)55 (25%)
Fouke137 (43%)185 (57%)
Ft. Lynn25 (52%)23 (48%)
Boyd21 (46%)25 (54%)
Central73 (46%)85 (54%)
Genoa66 (64%)38 (36%)
Pleasant Hill32 (47%)36 (53%)
Greenwich Village82 (59%)58 (41%)
Mandeville102 (69%)45 (31%)
Rondo139 (64%)78 (36%)
Shiloh63 (58%)45 (42%)
Union161 (64%)93 (36%)
Garland37 (52%)34 (48%)
Bright Star27 (43%)38 (57%)
Doddridge52 (49.5%)53 (50.5%)
Sugar Hill279 (64%)159 (36%)
Early773 (70%)347 (30%)
Absentee41 (67%)20 (33%)
Total 3,398 (66%)1,764 (34%)

Little River County


Precinct
Harrelson
Cowling
Arden Township52 (53%)47 (47%)
Arkinda (NW of Foreman)11 (42%)15 (58%)
Ashdown Ward 1225 (52%)208 (48%)
Ashdown Ward 2125 (49%)130 (51%)
Ashdown Ward 3104 (50.2%)103 (49.8%)
Burke Township (Alleene)22 (39%)34 (61%)
Caney Township (Cerrogordo)23 (36%)41 (64%)
Cleveland Township (Wilton)107 (52%)97 (48%)
Foreman Ward 18 (27%)22 (73%)
Foreman Ward 224 (22%)83 (78%)
Foreman Ward 326 (21%)96 (79%)
Franklin Township (Millwood)121 (58%)89 (42%)
Jackson Township (Ash Grove)36 (27%)97 (73%)
Jefferson Twnshp (W of 71 btwn Ashdn/Ogdn)56 (43%)73 (57%)
Jewell Township (Winthrop)21 (40%)32 (60%)
Johnson Township (Ogden)49 (39%)76 (61%)
Lick Creek (Btwn Wilton/Alleene)57 (49%)60 (51%)
Little River Township (NE of Winthrop)46 (37%)77 (63%)
Red River Township (Richmond)63 (41%)92 (59%)
Wallace/Richland Townships31 (23%)104 (77%)
Early251 (46%)299 (54%)
Absentee47 (51%)45 (49%)
Total 1,505 (44%)1,920 (56%)

Lafayette County


Precinct
Harrelson
Cowling
Lewisville Library40 (74%)14 (26%)
Lewisville Annex72 (70%)31 (30%)
Midway/Boyd Hill23 (47%)26 (53%)
Walker Creek33 (51%)32 (49%)
Bradley74 (41%)108 (59%)
Lake Erling14 (28%)36 (72%)
Buckner73 (42%)100 (58%)
Stamps Complex69 (42%)94 (58%)
Stamps City Hall72 (41%)103 (59%)
Early131 (54%)110 (46%)
Absentee65 (61%)41 (39%)
Total 581 (49%)612 (51%)

Hempstead County


Precinct
Harrelson
Cowling
Spring Hill171 (52%)161 (48%)
Fulton41 (47%)46 (53%)
McNab12 (44%)15 (56%)
Patmos37 (44%)48 (56%)
Guernsey39 (53%)34 (47%)
Early39 (45%)48 (55%)
Absentee22 (55%)18 (45%)
Total 361 (49%)370 (51%)

Sevier County


Precinct
Harrelson
Cowling
Ben Lomond26 (53%)23 (47%)
Brownstown39 (45%)47 (55%)
Central Fire Station53 (46%)62 (54%)
Chapel Hill58 (30%)137 (70%)
Cossatot Fire Dept.5 (16%)26 (84%)
Falls Chapel26 (37%)44 (63%)
Horatio99 (30%)232 (70%)
Lockesburg4 (67%)2 (33%)
Early80 (37%)134 (67%)
Absentee13 (62%)8 (38%)
Total 403 (36%)715 (64%)

Columbia County


Precinct
Harrelson
Cowling
Taylor City49 (39%)77 (61%)
Taylor Township55 (43%)74 (57%)
Early40 (41%)57 (59%)
Absentee4 (57%)3 (43%)
Total 148 (41%)211 (59%)


Miller County Totals: Harrelson 3,398 (66%) - Cowling 1,764 (34%) (Harrelson +1,634)
Little River County Totals: Harrelson 1,505 (44%) - Cowling 1,920 (56%) (Harrelson -415)
Lafayette County Totals: Harrelson 581 (49%) - Cowling 612 (51%) (Harrelson -31)
Hempstead County Totals: Harrelson 361 (49%) - Cowling 370 (51%) (Harrelson -9)
Sevier County Totals: Harrelson 403 (36%) - Cowling 715 (64%) (Harrelson -312)
Columbia County Totals: Harrelson 148 (41%) - Cowling 211 (59%) (Harrelson -63)

- Texarkana Totals (included in Miller Co. above): Harrelson 1,566 (73.6%) - Cowling 562 (26.4%)
- Ashdown Totals Totals (included in Little River Co. above): Harrelson 454 (50.7%) - Cowling 441 (49.3%)

Grand Totals: Harrelson 6,396 - Cowling 5,592 (Harrelson +804)

Of the 81 precincts, I had the best percentage (88%) in the Washington box in Texarkana. I did the worst at the Cossatot Fire Department in rural Sevier County (16% -- ouch!). We did well in Texarkana and won Ashdown. We got clobbered in only two mid-sized communities: Foreman and Horatio. Overall, I wouldn't change a thing about our effort. We had an excellent organization and executed it well. It's fun recapping the campaign, and after a couple of days of rest, I'm ready to get to work. But first, these signs aren't going to take themselves down.


Monday, May 17, 2010

Election Eve

Don't forget to vote in tomorrow's preferential primary elections here in Arkansas. Here are details on the election:

Early Voting: You can still early vote today at your county courthouse from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Voting at the polls tomorrow: The polls will be open from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm tomorrow. Not sure where to vote or want to confirm your polling place? It's easy -- just go to www.voterview.org, and type in your name and date of birth, and it'll tell you everything you need to know.

Good luck to all candidates.


Last minute photos

Here are a few pictures from the last weekend on the campaign trail:

Stamps fishing tournament


Finally got bit by a dog out going door to door down near Mars Hill. Don't let this little sucker fool ya...he can bring it

Hamburger supper in Spring Hill (Hempstead Co.)

Rocky Mound Cemetery Pie Auction east of Fouke


Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk -- Team Joshua

Weekend before the election with Razorback running back Dennis Johnson

Pie Auction at the Miller Community Center in western Little River County (between Cross Roads and Foreman)


Thursday, May 13, 2010

KSLA Interview

Our Senate race will be profiled on KSLA-12 (CBS-Shreveport) soon. Here are a couple of pictures from the interview:



Turk Plant Permit Denied by SC

The Arkansas Supreme Court just reversed the Arkansas Public Service Commission's approval of the Turk power plant in southwest Arkansas. In a ruling released this morning, the court reversed a decision by the to grant a permit for the Southwest Electric Power Co.'s $1.6 billion plant near Fulton in Hempstead County. The ruling sends the case back to the PSC.

The justices said the PSC should not have opened a docket on the need for power, separate from the docket on the request for the plant permit. Chief Justice Hannah wrote that determining the need for additional power is integral to determining the basis for the need for the proposed facility. Here's more from Arkansas Business.


State oriented blogs

Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of issue-oriented and political blogs from each of the states. Click the link for the list.


Letter to the Editor


New radio ad

Click the console below to hear our new radio ad (or or click this link):


Five days out...Former Bronco and all-pro Rod Smith

Thanks to former Arkansas High QB and Bronco Wide Receiver Rod Smith for helping out on the campaign yesterday.


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System update

ATRS Executive Director George Hopkins provides this update on the retirement system.


Jack Hardy Award

Each year, the Texarkana Arkansas School District gives out an award for volunteer work within the school district. My mom won this award in 1993. This year, it went to Sandy Varner -- well deserved.


Patmos City Council meeting

I ran down to Patmos with Rep. Bubba Powers last night to speak to their city council meeting:


Monday, May 10, 2010

Beebe requests federal disaster declaration for nine counties

Governor Beebe has requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government for nine Arkansas counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding beginning April 30. The letter includes requests for Conway, Crittenden, Jackson, Lonoke, Mississippi, Poinsett, Pulaski, Saline, and Van Buren Counties.

In addition, Beebe has also sent a request to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Faulkner County. Fruit crops in Faulkner County suffered significant damage from hailstorms on April 23 and 24.


Whistlestop Festival in Ashdown

We had a good turnout for the Whistlestop Festival in Ashdown over the weekend. We set up shop right outside Harrelson Headquarters in Ashdown with a cotton candy machine and popcorn machine. Here are a few pictures: