Candidates for representative of House District 82 provide different perspectives for bringing more jobs to a region that stretches from Charleston in Franklin County to Huntsville in Madison County.
Educator Bill Gossage is challenging House District 83 Rep. Leslee Milam Post, a homemaker running for her second term in the Legislature. Both candidates live in Ozark.
Post is running to represent a different House district because of redistricting.
Post, a Democrat, is involved in a study that is focused on the potential for new ports along the Arkansas River. The legislative interim study includes the potential that exists for businesses, the needs of businesses and what might hinder business development, she said.
“This is such an important project, and there’s so much opportunity,” Post said. “It’s a liquid highway. To me, our river has just so much potential. I just want so terribly for us to invest in our river like we do our highways.”
Post said she does not know what recommendations the committee will make to pay for improvements along the river. She said she also wants to create tax incentives for potential investors interested in opportunities along the river.
Gossage, a Republican, plans to identify obstacles that are detrimental to business success and job creation in the district and in the state, he said.
“All businesses could benefit from a reduction of onerous regulations and rules that negatively affect the bottom-line and cause business owners to be cautious about adding new employees,” he said.
Gossage would like to push for a dynamic relationship between government oversight agencies and businesses to ensure necessary regulations are in place and needless regulations are eliminated, he said.
He’s interested in studying the professions required to have a license in Arkansas and the requirements for obtaining those licenses, such as for insulation installers, he said.
“No one wants to roll back safety standards, but the government should shoulder theburden of showing there is a compelling need to the barriers it places on licensed occupations and job creators,” Gossage said.
In her first term, Post tapped into her expertise as the former director of the Crisis Center for Women in Fort Smith to pass legislation aimed at providing for safe communities, including a bill that limits how close sex offenders can get to water parks. She also supported efforts to lower taxes. She hopes to work with Gov. Mike Beebe to abolish the grocery tax, she said.
“We live in a beautiful part of a great state and I am proud to work at the Capitol on my constituents’ behalf,” Post said. “I hope to continue that work - putting people first and making the government work for her people.”
Gossage describes himself as a conservative. He’s concerned about the economy and fair taxes, he said. Growing up on a small farm taught him the values of hard work, a good education and “doing things right,” he said. He has 31 years of experience in education and is interested in government and politics.
“I want to stand up for the American traditions of hard work, personal responsibility, faith in God and freedom,” Gossage said. “As a legislator, I can help make sure that law and policy embrace and honor the traditions that have made us great.” To contact this reporter:
Representative, House District 82
Name:
Leslee Milam Post
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent:
No
Age:
38
Residency:
Ozark
Family:
Married to Andrew Post, four children.
Employment:
Homemaker
Previous political experience:
House District 83 representative, 2010-12
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in communications, University of the Ozarks, 1996.
Military experience:
None
Name:
Bill Gossage
Party:
Republican Incumbent: No
Age:
55
Residency:
Ozark
Family:
Married to Tonya Gossage, one child.
Employment:
Assistant superintendent of Ozark School District.
Previous political experience:
None.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in history and political science, Arkansas Tech University, 1979. Master’s degree in counseling, University of Arkansas, 1990.
Military experience:
None.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 09/29/2012