Two Democrats running for state representative in central and southern parts of Pulaski County say they both want to fund education before kindergarten across Arkansas and ensure workforce training for current jobs.
Candidates Charles Blake and Sheena Lewis are both District 36 natives. A third Democrat running for the seat, Rodney Hall, did not answer phone calls and voice mails over the past few weeks.
The race has drawn no Republican candidates, and whoever wins the May primary will go on to represent the district.
Blake, 31, runs a nonemergency medical transport company called Cenark Transportation that he started in November 2012.
The Grinnell College graduate has been a commercial banker and lender at Regions Bank, a financial adviser at Morgan Keegan and spent 2½ years in finance, operation and advancement for the Little Rock Preparatory Academy.
Blake also serves on the LRCENT -- Citizen Evaluation of New Tax -- Committee, which is meant to ensure that revenue from the 2011 voter-approved sales tax increase in Little Rock is allocated as promised.
Lewis, 32, is the CEO and founder of D.I.V.A.S. Incorporated, an empowerment and development program for young women.
Lewis is a graduate of Capella University, president of Luxe Public Relations Firm, and commissioner and chairman for the Little Rock Commission of Children, Youth and Families. Lewis previously spent several years with the Bureau of Legislative Research.
In April, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Lewis was one of 70 candidates across the state who owed money to the government, most to the Internal Revenue Service. Lewis was listed as having an outstanding debt with the state Department of Workforce Services after being overpaid for unemployment benefits. The notices of lien were sent to an address Lewis has not lived at for years.
She told a reporter in April that she planned to take care of the issue right away. Lewis did not return a phone call Monday seeking information on whether the debt was resolved.
Both Lewis and Blake want to see early-childhood education, more jobs in their districts and more workforce training.
Blake focused on early-childhood education and touted programs including high-quality preschool that is more than just day care.
"The question is more, 'Are we willing to fund it?'" he said. Blake called the programs an "investment" in Arkansas' children and future.
Blake said early-childhood education would help disadvantaged Arkansans prosper but added that workforce training and continuing education would help people prepare for jobs after high school graduation and beyond. He said too many people in his district are not prepared for technology jobs, particularly those that might come along with the new technology park in Little Rock.
Lewis promotes statewide pre-kindergarten funding and said she wants to bring jobs to the district and help small businesses grow to make sure the "community is thriving overall."
She said she wants to work with private and public sector officials to establish more workforce training and education preparing residents for jobs.
In addition, Lewis said she would stand for "women's rights" in the Legislature.
Metro on 05/07/2014