I Take Great Offense at Recent Public Comments by Our Chamber President Steve Clark Accusing

I take great offense at recent public comments by our Chamber President Steve Clark accusing me of being “missing in action.” I did not attend the House State Agencies meeting this week because I was running a bill in Senate Education and then attending Senate Judiciary, of which I am a member. In other words, I was doing my job as the State Senator for District 7. If it was so important to Mr. Clark that I attend this meeting, then why didn’t he contact me and ask me to attend? He has yet to contact me to discuss ANY issues during this entire legislative session.

I also take great offense that Mr. Clark has publicly accused me of ignoring my constituents and forgetting the people of Fayetteville. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Mr. Clark’s comments also include numerous distortions. First, I do not have the power “alone” or “singlehandedly” to defeat any piece of legislation, nor do I have the power to “guarantee” anything in the redistricting process. The General Assembly has 135 members, and we all have a vote. Second, Mr. Clark presumes to know the “expressed interests” of my constituents on this issue when, in fact, I have heard from numerous constituents on all sides of this issue. Third, Mr. Clark says I was elected to represent “Northwest Arkansas.” That is false. Mr. Clark knows that I represent the people of District 7.

I have made my position on redistricting very clear. As the Chair of the Senate State Agencies Committee, it is my duty to give all redistricting proposals a fair hearing, and I will therefore not be taking any position on particular proposals. That may not please everyone, but the redistricting process never does. I will continue to listen to the thoughts of my constituents, and I am confident that whatever the result of the redistricting process, Fayetteville and our region will be just fine.