Fayetteville alderman Mark Kinion announces state House bid

Mark Kinion / Courtesy photo

Fayetteville Ward 2 Alderman Mark Kinion last week announced plans to run for the District 86 seat of the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2018.

State Rep. Greg Leding, who currently holds the seat, plans to run for the state Senate District 4 seat held by Sen. Uvalde Lindsey. Lindsey has said he will not seek re-election.

Kinion announced his bid on Facebook.

“To curb speculation & answer inquiries I would like to publicly announce my intent to run for AR House District 86 being vacated by Greg Leding,” Kinion posted. “Official Campaign Kick-off soon. Still City Council work to do in meantime.”

Kinion is currently serving the third year of his second four-year term. He was first elected to the Ward 2, Position 1 seat in Fayetteville in 2010. He has since attended 151 out of 160 City Council meetings for a 94 percent attendance record.

Kinion ran for Washington County judge in 2016, but lost the bid to Republican candidate Joseph Wood, who received 55 percent of the votes.

The District 86 seat includes Fayetteville, Johnson and a portion of western Washington County.