Candidates for District 80 Representative

Read on for the results from my Question and Answer session with the three candidates for Arkansas District 80 Representative!

Incumbent Charlene Fite (R)

ML: Tell me about yourself.

CF: I grew up in Alma. I got my Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Arkansas. I’ve lived in TX, TN, MO and for almost nine years was a missionary in Taiwan, R.O.C. I chose to return to AR and finish raising my family here and have  lived in the Figure Five area for 22 years. I retired from Fort Smith Public Schools, where I was a School Psychology Specialist. I was elected to the AR House of Representatives in 2012. Tom and I have 6 children and 7 grandchildren.  We are members of Heritage Church in Van Buren. I love to travel, especially teaching English as a friendship builder on mission trips to China, Belarus and Ukraine. I also enjoy reading and singing Gospel and a little Patsy Cline.

ML: What do you see as the most pressing issue in our district?

CF: The most pressing issue in District 80 is economic development. Northwest AR is booming, but much of that growth has missed this area. We want to retain our small town charm and values, while being thriving communities where our children and grandchildren will want to live and raise their own families. During the past term, the Legislature joined the Governor in cutting taxes by 150 million dollars. This was the largest income tax cut in state history, resulting in more Arkansans having money to buy needed items for their families. We also want to continue supporting our local schools by raising starting teacher pay to the highest in the region. These steps, along with our efforts to reduce government regulations, will help our small towns continue to be quality places to live, raise families, and retire.

ML: If you could pick only one house committee to serve on, what committee would that be and why?

CF: Since I was elected to the House of Representatives, I’ve served on the Aging, Children and Youth, Military Committee. This term I’ve had the honor of being chairman. This committee is my passion, because all the issues involving children in foster care come before us. I’ve been a Court Appointed Special Advocate for a number of years, and am a former foster parent. I’ve successfully sponsored several bills that have brought needed changes to our foster care system, but there is more work I want to do. I also want to continue to serve on the Judiciary Committee.

ML: What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

CF: It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve the people of District 80 and I want to continue being a representative of whom you can be proud. My favorite part of the job is being able to help a constituent resolve an issue he or she is having with state government. If I can get someone to the right person in the right agency and get a needed answer or resource to help, I find that very fulfilling. My goal is to return your phone calls, emails and Facebook messages within 24 hours, and I believe I’ve accomplished that.

ML: Everyone has a great app idea. What’s yours?

CF: Hmmm…if I had an app that would instantly sort through my “to do” list and rank items in order of importance, I’d be quite happy.

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Casey Copeland (L)

ML: Tell me about yourself.

CC: I was raised on a small farm in Hogeye, Arkansas, where we raised chickens and cattle.  Growing up, I worked on the farm and in my dad’s plastic plant in Prairie Grove.  My mother was a nurse in Fayetteville, and my father ran the farm and a plastic/tool and die operation in Prairie Grove.

I went to school in Greenland (class of 1995), and then the University of Arkansas, where I earned a business degree.  A few years later I went to law school in Fayetteville, and I’ve been a licensed attorney since 2005.

I live in Prairie Grove with my wife, Cohen, and three sons aged 17, 12, and 4.  I work the family poultry and hay farm, which is now north of Lincoln, Arkansas, and I represent kids in foster-care in the Fort Smith area.  My wife is a court reporter in Benton and Washington counties.

I don’t have time for many hobbies, but I like to read when I have time; mysteries, historical fiction, and non-fiction histories; most of all I enjoy working on the farm with my boys.

I’ve been a Cub Scout Den Leader, a Chamber of Commerce Officer, and a youth sports coach at different times over the years.

ML: What do you see as the most pressing issue in our district?

CC: The most pressing issue for District 80 is finding ways to keep small farms and small businesses going, by keeping their tax and regulatory burdens as low as possible.  The small towns of Cedarville, Prairie Grove, and Lincoln depend on those farms and businesses staying in operation, passing along to the next generation, and being able to compete against big corporate stores and companies.  I’m concerned the our current leadership is more interested in giant corporations and foreign companies than they are the small farms and businesses that are already here and struggling to survive.

ML: If you could pick only one house committee to serve on, what committee would that be and why?

CC: The Revenue and Taxation Committee, because I believe reducing and reforming our tax systems as they apply to small farms and small businesses is the single most important issue for District 80 and the rest of the state.

ML: What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

CC: I am running as a third party candidate, and my Party is not one to press itself on its members or candidates.  I will be able to go to Little Rock and work for the people of District 80, and not have to worry about upsetting my Party’s leadership, or keeping them happy to stay in office.

ML: Everyone has a great app idea. What’s yours?

CC: I’d like an app that could detect telemarketers who call from local numbers, answered the call, and had an automated conversation with them for 10-15 minutes, just to waste their time.

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Lou Reed Sharp (D)

ML: Tell me about yourself.

LRS: I’m a retired home health and hospice nurse and own a small sewing business. I’ve worked all my life to help people improve their lives, 1st by expanding home health services into rural Washington County. Then adding hospice and then building the area’s first hospice home. Even after retiring, I started a small business working with women who can’t hold traditional jobs to sew, making clothes and things we design that they can do in their own homes. We sell these at the Fayetteville & Bentonville Farmer’s Markets. I have always loved working with people, doing things together.

ML: What do you see as the most pressing issue in our district?

LRS: District 80 is incredibly diverse with three larger towns, Prairie Grove, Lincoln and Cedarville. And then many smaller unincorporated towns, such as Summers, Cane Hills, and part of bigger towns such as, West Fayetteville, Tontitown, so the needs vary within the district. District 80 it is very rural. The lower half includes the Ozark Natural Forest with housing very spread out and limited cell phone coverage. Each areas needs are unique and diverse.

When I ask people, they tell me their biggest concern is keeping or getting affordable, accessible health care. People understand that they must be able to buy medication and stay well in order to go to school or work. And some know they would die if they were unable to get medicine or treatment or go to the doctor. People are frightened and don’t know what they are going to do, especially when it comes to their kids. Many do without and pray. Then they go to the emergency room.

Bigger picture, all of our towns want jobs and opportunities. Jobs and opportunities come with well funded public schools. Rural areas offer more affordable housing and land, but people want to move to areas with really good schools. Schools are also large employers, providing a tax base for roads and infrastructure. People understand that solid education provides the building blocks to be able to take advantage of opportunities and careers as they grow into adulthood. The building blocks of each community may vary, but they are all key and an important part of strong, family oriented communities to which people want to belong.

ML: If you could pick only one house committee to serve on, what committee would that be and why?

LRS: I would choose Public, Health, Welfare & Labor.

This committee reviews matters pertaining to public health, mental health, intellectual disabilities, public welfare, human relations and resources, environmental affairs, water and air pollution, labor and labor relations.

The focus of this committee are areas of concerns for the majority of the citizens in District 80. With a healthcare background that involved the provision of services in the community, I am uniquely qualified and experience in a broad network of community resources. This committee would benefit the most people in District 80.

ML: What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

LRS: I am a nurse, a nurse that provided services in people’s homes and in the community. I understand the complexities of working across political lines, across government regulatory agencies, with local and private organizations and existing area educational facilities. You must be able to assess resources and assess the needs of the people in the community and how to best address those unmet needs. Innovative, unique collaborations focused on families is a challenging process that takes solid community leadership and resources. It can be done even when naysayers say it can’t, if it is the right thing to do for the people.

ML: Everyone has a great app idea. What’s yours?

LRS: An app that would open and shut the door for the dog to go in & out when you don’t have a doggy door. This would really be helpful when you can’t get up and down all the time.