State Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, said Wednesday that he won't seek re-election next year, and he's weighing the possibility of running for Faulkner County assesssor or county judge instead.
Meeks, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2011, said he believes that he's accomplished a lot during his tenure, and it's time to step aside and let somebody else represent the people of House District 28. The district includes parts of Conway, southwest Faulkner County and eastern Perry County, including part of Bigelow.
He said he's been asked by some people to run for Faulkner County assessor or county judge, and he's not ruled out running for one of those elected posts. He said he'll make a decision in the next month or so.
Faulkner County Assessor Angela Hill, a Democrat who has served in the elected post since January 2013, said she won't seek re-election next year, after working in the office since 1988. County Judge Jim Baker, a Democrat who has served in the elected job since January 2015, said Wednesday that he plans to run for re-election.
State representatives and senators each receive an annual salary of $39,400. The House speaker and Senate president tempore each receive $45,000 a year. They also are paid per-diem, mileage and other expenses, which together averaged about $17,000 per lawmaker last calendar year.
In Faulkner County, the county judge's salary is $74,984 a year, while the assessor's salary is $72,841.60 a year, according to the county attorney's office.
Meeks said he and his wife adopted three sons late in 2015, and they have seven children in their household.
"That did factor into my decision," he said. "We are living in a world with more partisanship. It is tough on families, and it was time for me to step aside and let someone else serve."
Meeks, who reported only his salary as a state representative on his Statement of Financial Interest last year, said he has served full time as a state lawmaker.
Metro on 06/01/2017