Candidate news: Clark, Storey, Whitaker

Here’s a list of candidates who’ve recently sent us press releases announcing their plans to run for various seats in upcoming elections.

Also see:
» Candidate news: Parks, Snively
» Candidate news: Balls, Boyle, Leding, Lester, Martin, Zimmerman


Candy Clark – House of Representatives, District 84

Justice of the Peace Candy Clark announced that she is running for the Arkansas House of Representatives in District 84.

Read: “Candy Clark Announces For State Representative, District 84”
CANDY CLARK ANNOUNCES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 84

Candy Clark

Courtesy

Candy Clark, a local business owner and member of the Washington County Quorum Court, announced her candidacy for State Representative for District 84. District 84 covers parts of Elkins, Fayetteville, Greenland, Prairie Grove, and West Fork.

Clark has been a Fayetteville resident for over 45 years, is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, and received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Arkansas.

Clark has served 5 years on the Washington County Quorum Court and is a former member of the City of Fayetteville Planning Commission. She has served on the County Services, Personnel, Jails, and Finance and Budget Committee of the Whole and served as Chair of the Finance & Budget Committee of the Whole for the last three years. She is co-owner and founder of C & C Commercial & Industrial Cleaning Service, LLC, and co-owner of All Around Self Storage, local businesses in which she manages over 50 employees and administers a multi-million dollar budget. Clark served as the first Executive Director of the Humane Society of the Ozarks and was the founder of and is a member of the Animal League of Washington County.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Today I announce my candidacy for State Representative. I believe we can do better in managing the state budget, improving public education, and promoting economic development. I have strong communication skills, both as a listener and an advocate. I promise to be a hard-working Legislator who will study the issues and legislation and sincerely listen to the views of all of my constituents as well as the ideas presented by my legislative colleagues of both parties. You have my word on that.

Both as a business owner and a public official, I have a record of providing quality services at reasonable costs. I am a fiscal conservative who has been a strong steward of the public’s funds. During three terms on the Washington County Quorum Court, I have gained a great appreciation for consensus building with my Democrat and Republican colleagues. As chair of the County Finance & Budget Committee for the past two terms, we have worked together to pass a balanced budget and cut property millage with no loss in County services. We have also built a Coroner’s Building, Animal Shelter, parking deck, and finished renovations to the Historical Courthouse, all without raising taxes. I have learned how to make different opinions unite to do productive work for the taxpayers of Washington County. However, political success is not enough. As a local business owner for over 15 years, I also understand the real world realities involved with making payroll, paying taxes, and keeping a workforce of over 50 people employed. I am committed to bringing this same common sense to our state government as a member of the Arkansas Legislature.

I am announcing now so that I will have a year to listen to the concerns of the voters and discuss those issues that are important to them. In addition to wise management of public spending, I am interested in advancing economic development and improving the quality of public education. My mother was a teacher in the Fayetteville Public Schools for 26 years, and I taught at the University of Arkansas when I was in graduate school. I am strongly committed to assuring that our local public schools and the University of Arkansas are the best that they can be. Our children are our future, and we must make sure they have the knowledge and skills to compete in the 21st century. I want to make sure they have the necessary resources and funding from our state government.

Northwest Arkansas is the economic engine of our state. I believe that public policy should support a strong economy and a healthy business climate that provides economic opportunity for business, good jobs for our work force, and financial security for all of our residents, whether in our cities or our rural areas. My experience in private business as well as city and county government have prepared me to be an effective State Legislator to work in a bi-partisan fashion for our area, our state, and its people.

With both productive political and business experience, I am ready and prepared for new challenges in public service. After careful consideration, I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Arkansas House of Representatives, District 84. I welcome your support. Working together, we can make Arkansas even better.


Hon. William Storey – Fayetteville District Judge

Circuit Judge William Storey announced he is running for Fayetteville District Judge. The position was held by Rudy Moore, who died after 22 years on the bench.

Read: “William Storey Press Release”
FOR RELEASE: JUNE 18, 2013

Hon. William Storey

Courtesy

Circuit Judge Bill Storey announced Tuesday his candidacy for the Fayetteville District Court to fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Rudy Moore.

“Words such as equal justice for all, judicial efficiency, even temperament, and uncompromising professionalism describe Judge Moore’s service. I promise these principles will continue to guide me as District Judge,” said Storey.

“I am running because I see Fayetteville District Court as an opportunity to make a real difference in our community – by holding accountable those drivers who put our children in danger by driving drunk or texting while driving,” he said.

“Clearly driving while intoxicated is a very serious crime, however, according to a 2012 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated,” he said.

“All too often I see people in Fayetteville texting and driving with children in the car. I truly believe this can be stopped if these drivers are aware of the risks and there are serious consequences for this conduct. We should not wait for people to be injured or die in automobile accidents before we, as a society, address this issue. Here lies the opportunity to change our perspective,” said Storey.

Judge Storey is currently Administrative Judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit which includes Washington and Madison counties. He has served as the chair of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission and the Arkansas Sentencing Commission. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Arkansas Bar Association and was President of the Washington County Bar Association. Storey was a lecturer at the University of Arkansas School of Law for many years. As Circuit Judge, he has handled more than 35,000 criminal and civil cases.

Judge Storey has lived in Fayetteville for over 50 years, is a graduate of Fayetteville High School and the University of Arkansas. He and his wife Patricia have three daughters and eleven grandchildren.

The nonpartisan judicial election will be held May 20, 2014.


Rep. David Whitaker – House of Representatives, District 85

State Representative David Whitaker announced that he is running for re-election to the Arkansas House of Representatives in District 85.

Read: “Whitaker Announces For Second Term”
WHITAKER ANNOUNCES FOR SECOND TERM
Fayetteville Rep Cites Successes; Declares for Fayetteville, Farmington House District

Rep. David Whitaker

Courtesy

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 addressing:

  • 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.