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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
