Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville, will run for re-election for the House District 85 seat, he announced.
As a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law, Whitaker is an active member of the Arkansas Bar Association who worked as Assistant City Attorney in Fayetteville before winning his first term in 2012. Whitaker won a Democratic primary and then took 56 percent of the votes in the general election.
In his formal announcement on Tuesday, the 52-year-old freshman lawmaker noted a “flawless record in legislative success,” which included the passing of all eight of the bills he introduced as primary sponsor.
Whitaker highlighted a few of those bills including legislation that created a new type of corporation in Arkansas – benefit corporations (or B-corps) – which are designed for for-profit entities that want to consider society and the environment in addition to profit in their decision making process.
Whitaker also noted a bill that toughened drunk driving laws, legislation that gives cities the power to regulate the towing and booting of cars in private parking lots, and a bill that increases transparency in local Advertising and Promotion Commissions.
The 85th district covers southern and eastern areas of Fayetteville and also includes Farmington.
“It has been an honor serving the people of Fayetteville and Farmington in the legislature, and I want to continue to work with them to create good, meaningful legislation during my second term in the House,” Whitaker said. “Our goal has always been to put working families first and I am going to fight hard to continue working for good schools, good jobs, and good government for the families in my district.”
Fayetteville Rep Cites Successes; Declares for Fayetteville, Farmington House District
FAYETTEVILLE – State Representative David Whitaker (D-Fayetteville) announced on Tuesday morning that he is running for re-election to the Arkansas House of Representatives.
The freshman legislator notched a flawless record in legislative success during the 89th General Assembly, passing all eight pieces of legislation of which he was the primary sponsor.
“It has been an honor serving the people of Fayetteville and Farmington in the legislature, and I want to continue to work with them to create good, meaningful legislation during my second term in the House,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker won his first term in 2012, with 56% of the vote in November after contested primary and general election campaigns. He raised over $40,000 for his campaign in 2012 and anticipates exceeding that total in 2014.
“Our goal has always been to put working families first and I am going to fight hard to continue working for good schools, good jobs, and good government for the families in my district,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker’s noteworthy legislation included creating a new type of corporation in Arkansas, benefit corporations (B-corps), which give back to the communities where they are headquartered. The legislation passed the House with no opposition.
In addition to B-corps, Whitaker also passed legislation
– Toughening drunk driving laws to crack down on those who injure while intoxicated
– Giving cities the power to address predatory towing and booting
– Increasing transparency in local advertising and promotion commissions
– Honoring Vietnam Veterans with a distinct license plate for in-country service
– Making common-sense updates to outdated state code
Before being elected to the state legislature, Whitaker’s public service included serving in the United States Air Force. He honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1989. Whitaker is also a 1999 graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law and coordinated the Washington County Domestic Violence Task Force from 1999-2000. In 2001, he was appointed Assistant City Attorney for the City of Fayetteville and is an active member of the Arkansas Bar Association.
In the 89th General Assembly, Whitaker serves on the Committees on Public Transportation; City, County and Local Affairs, as well as being a non-voting member of the Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee. He is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Paralegal Studies Program at Northwest Arkansas Community College. He is married to Lisa Raney Whitaker, a pharmacist at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.
