Fayetteville alderman, activist face off in Democrat primary for House

FAYETTEVILLE -- Voters who live downtown and in the northwest part of town will choose which Democrat will represent them in the Arkansas House.

Alderman Mark Kinion and university lecturer Nicole Clowney face off in the Democratic primary to represent House District 86 for two years. The winner will have no opponents in the fall general election, so the May 22 primary decides the seat.

The district includes the University of Arkansas campus and stretches north to Johnson and west past Rupple Road. Early voting starts Monday.

The candidates want to replace Democrat Greg Leding, who's running for a state Senate seat. Both touted their relationships throughout the community, which they said give them the tools to make a difference in state government even while belonging to the minority party.

Clowney, for instance, was a founding member of the local Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America chapter. She said she worked with the national nonprofit Children's Law Center, which helps minors with legal needs, before moving to Arkansas four years ago. Clowney said she's experienced in rallying people to common ground.

"That's the type of experience that people seem ready for," she said. "I think it's bigger than just one issue here or one issue there. We are bringing fresh, new voices into politics."

Kinion has been on the City Council since 2010, works as a residential mortgage loan officer with Bank of England Mortgage and pointed to his time with the Fayetteville Housing Authority and other public organizations. He said his career has taken him all over the state and required working with the state.

"This is going to help me have access and good rapport, and I think that people trust my judgment," Kinion said. "It's a great advantage to elect someone who has these relationships."

Clowney said one of the top concerns she's heard while talking with district residents is gun safety. She opposes the state law allowing concealed handguns on public university campuses. She teaches Greek and Latin history and language classes at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Clowney supports the idea of temporary gun restraining orders, which have attracted bipartisan support in some other states. The orders in other states have allowed police to remove guns from domestic abusers with evidence that they pose a danger to family members.

"All we want to do is bring common sense back into this argument," Clowney said, adding she's not a one-issue candidate. She wants to give more state support to public education, protect the environment and be an example for her two daughters and other young girls.

"That's a voice that we need in Little Rock, and I feel very ready to be that voice," Clowney said.

Kinion said one of his top priorities would be to support health care, especially in rural areas. That means keeping the state money flowing to University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences clinics and supporting the Medicaid expansion, which provides coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income Arkansans at low or no cost. Kinion criticized state Republicans' adding work requirements and making other changes to the expansion.

"It was a fair model, but there's been a lot of messing around with it that I think we need to look and see what the real impact is," to make sure people who need it aren't kicked off, he said.

Kinion said he's the first openly gay man to run for state office and would bring that voice to debates about civil rights protections. He also brings an eye for budgeting and a reputation for being prepared, even for tedious work, he said.

"I tell people, this isn't the sexiest part of the job, but it's probably the most important, and it's something that sets me on fire," he said. "I will do my homework."

NW News on 05/06/2018