BENTONVILLE -- Gan Nunnally of Bentonville plans to run for the District 93 seat in the state House of Representatives in the Republican primary, he confirmed Wednesday.
Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, occupies the seat. Dotson said he will announce his re-election bid soon. No Democrat has yet to announce for the seat.
Nunnally, 48, is general manager of Nunnally Chevrolet in Bentonville, a longtime leader in civic groups and a youth sports coach. His announcement listed priorities from education to business growth to opportunity for all and public safety. This will be Nunnally's first bid for elective office.
"I think workforce development has to be our number one priority," Nunnally said Wednesday when asked what his top priority would be if elected. His own business experience reinforces that belief and so does his appointment by the governor to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board, he said.
"A lot of people look at a car dealership and think, well, they've got salesmen and they've got technicians," Nunnally said. "There are so many other jobs that we have available that we have here." Financial experts are needed. So are administrators. Schools in the Northwest Arkansas region are very cooperative in job-related training but need more flexibility from the state, he said.
"We live in one of the greatest areas of the country, and our opportunity is great," he said. "I find it an obligation to take advantage of the resources and feedback that our area offers us and to make a difference with Arkansas-based businesses and education."
Candidate filing for party primaries begins Feb. 22 and ends March 1. The primary is set for May 22 with the general election Nov. 6. Arkansas House members serve two-year terms and have an annual salary of $39,400. Members can serve 16 years in the Legislature under the state constitution's limit on terms.
NW News on 02/08/2018