Under the Dome

Rural sourcing to Arkansas

2010-07-09T09:05:00.002-05:00

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.

Special election set for House District 21

2010-07-08T17:45:00.005-05:00

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

2010-07-07T13:25:00.002-05:00

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

2010-07-07T13:21:00.001-05:00

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

Hello, July

2010-07-01T14:54:00.001-05:00

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.

Four States Living Magazine

2010-06-03T09:39:00.002-05:00

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:

Thank You!

2010-05-19T06:31:00.065-05:00

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
Bradfield	52 (74%)	19 (26%)
College Hill Middle School	148 (74%)	53 (26%)
Washington	127 (88%)	18 (12%)
Ozan Inghram	96 (77%)	28 (23%)
Sandflat	60 (76%)	19 (24%)
Hickory Street	85 (75%)	28 (25%)
Grand	144 (71%)	58 (29%)
Arkansas Blvd.	101 (76%)	32 (24%)
North Heights	316 (77%)	93 (23%)
Trice	158 (75%)	55 (25%)
Fouke	137 (43%)	185 (57%)
Ft. Lynn	25 (52%)	23 (48%)
Boyd	21 (46%)	25 (54%)
Central	73 (46%)	85 (54%)
Genoa	66 (64%)	38 (36%)
Pleasant Hill	32 (47%)	36 (53%)
Greenwich Village	82 (59%)	58 (41%)
Mandeville	102 (69%)	45 (31%)
Rondo	139 (64%)	78 (36%)
Shiloh	63 (58%)	45 (42%)
Union	161 (64%)	93 (36%)
Garland	37 (52%)	34 (48%)
Bright Star	27 (43%)	38 (57%)
Doddridge	52 (49.5%)	53 (50.5%)
Sugar Hill	279 (64%)	159 (36%)
Early	773 (70%)	347 (30%)
Absentee	41 (67%)	20 (33%)
Total	3,398 (66%)	1,764 (34%)

Little River County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Arden Township	52 (53%)	47 (47%)
Arkinda (NW of Foreman)	11 (42%)	15 (58%)
Ashdown Ward 1	225 (52%)	208 (48%)
Ashdown Ward 2	125 (49%)	130 (51%)
Ashdown Ward 3	104 (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 1	8 (27%)	22 (73%)
Foreman Ward 2	24 (22%)	83 (78%)
Foreman Ward 3	26 (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 Townships	31 (23%)	104 (77%)
Early	251 (46%)	299 (54%)
Absentee	47 (51%)	45 (49%)
Total	1,505 (44%)	1,920 (56%)

Lafayette County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Lewisville Library	40 (74%)	14 (26%)
Lewisville Annex	72 (70%)	31 (30%)
Midway/Boyd Hill	23 (47%)	26 (53%)
Walker Creek	33 (51%)	32 (49%)
Bradley	74 (41%)	108 (59%)
Lake Erling	14 (28%)	36 (72%)
Buckner	73 (42%)	100 (58%)
Stamps Complex	69 (42%)	94 (58%)
Stamps City Hall	72 (41%)	103 (59%)
Early	131 (54%)	110 (46%)
Absentee	65 (61%)	41 (39%)
Total	581 (49%)	612 (51%)

Hempstead County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Spring Hill	171 (52%)	161 (48%)
Fulton	41 (47%)	46 (53%)
McNab	12 (44%)	15 (56%)
Patmos	37 (44%)	48 (56%)
Guernsey	39 (53%)	34 (47%)
Early	39 (45%)	48 (55%)
Absentee	22 (55%)	18 (45%)
Total	361 (49%)	370 (51%)

Sevier County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Ben Lomond	26 (53%)	23 (47%)
Brownstown	39 (45%)	47 (55%)
Central Fire Station	53 (46%)	62 (54%)
Chapel Hill	58 (30%)	137 (70%)
Cossatot Fire Dept.	5 (16%)	26 (84%)
Falls Chapel	26 (37%)	44 (63%)
Horatio	99 (30%)	232 (70%)
Lockesburg	4 (67%)	2 (33%)
Early	80 (37%)	134 (67%)
Absentee	13 (62%)	8 (38%)
Total	403 (36%)	715 (64%)

Columbia County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Taylor City	49 (39%)	77 (61%)
Taylor Township	55 (43%)	74 (57%)
Early	40 (41%)	57 (59%)
Absentee	4 (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.

Election Eve

2010-05-17T08:08:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-17T08:01:00.002-05:00

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)

KSLA Interview

2010-05-13T10:48:00.004-05:00

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

2010-05-13T10:05:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-13T08:11:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-13T08:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to a letter to the editor appearing in today's Texarkana Gazette.

New radio ad

2010-05-13T07:31:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-13T06:03:00.002-05:00

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

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System update

2010-05-11T10:27:00.001-05:00

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

Jack Hardy Award

2010-05-11T10:25:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-11T10:24:00.002-05:00

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

Beebe requests federal disaster declaration for nine counties

2010-05-10T14:16:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-10T09:35:00.004-05:00

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:

On the campaign trail...8 days out

2010-05-10T09:28:00.004-05:00

Here's what came on the radio in the Chevy this morning out on the trail.

A few pictures from the weekend:

Nicholas Wells shows his support for Steve Harrelson at the Big Bass Classic weigh-in. His dad Troy Wells picks up his check for 5th place overall and for the fish closest to 6 lbs.

Photo of the day comes in from this house in Rondo with seven Steve Harrelson signs in the yard:

On the airwaves with voters from Hempstead County:

On the "Talk of South Arkansas" this morning

2010-05-07T07:20:00.001-05:00

I'll be on the "Talk of South Arkansas" this morning (KXAR 1490 AM) in Hope with Rep. Bubba Powers, who is campaigning with me on the trail some today. Tune in at 8:15 a.m. if you're in the area.

Sevier County Farm Bureau Candidates Forum

2010-05-07T07:17:00.001-05:00

All legislative and county candidates in Sevier County met yesterday to speak and answer questions in DeQueen. The forum also aired on KDQN 92.1 FM and KMTB 99.5 out of Nashville.

12 Days out...Ash Grove Cement in Foreman

2010-05-07T07:11:00.002-05:00

I took a little time yesterday to tour the new $350 million expansion of Ash Grove Cement in Foreman. Here are a couple of pictures:

April revenue shortfall

2010-05-05T10:39:00.001-05:00

As you've read by now, Governor Beebe has authorized the release of rainy-day funds and other fund transfers to protect state services after an unanticipated shortfall in April revenue. The anomaly in non-wage revenues, also appearing in other states around the country, has led the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to recommend a reduction in the FY2010 budget forecast of $41 million. Click here for a copy of the full report.