ROGERS -- State House District 94 will have its third consecutive general election contest between major party candidates on Nov. 6 -- the only such district in Benton County to do so.
Incumbent Rep. Rebecca Petty, R-Rogers, faces another Democratic challenge despite winning her last contest with more than 54 percent of the vote and her first by a larger margin than that, election records show. Democratic candidate Jene Huffman-Gilreath acknowledged winning the district won't be easy.
Arkansas House
District 94
Jene Huffman-Gilreath (D)
Age: 41
Residency: Rogers; lived in the district since 2007
Employment: Shared services manager, Rogers Water Utilities
Education: Master’s in public administration, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Political Experience: None
Rebecca Petty (R)
Incumbent
Age: 48
Residency: Rogers; lived in the district since 2010.
Employment: Private child and crime victim consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice, 2007 to present
Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Arkansas Tech University, 2013; pursuing a master’s at John Brown University
Political Experience: State House, 2015 to present
"I think the pendulum is swinging back to the center," Huffman-Gilreath said. "So the momentum is on my side, but yes, it will take a lot of work. I have a breadth of experience Rebecca doesn't have."
Her experience includes more than 10 years in private banking, work on the staff of then-U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson, a Republican, and her current experience as a manager in Rogers city government.
"She has a compelling story, but we have a lot broader issues to address," Huffman-Gilreath said of Petty.
One of Petty's daughters, Andi, was murdered in 1999. Petty is known for being an advocate for child safety, the rights of victims' families and for law enforcement issues. The claim she is too focused on such issues is repeated in every election and never was true, Petty said. A lawmaker can have priorities and expertise on certain issues without ignoring other responsibilities.
"That's what a Legislature is," Petty said. "We all bring different experiences to it. I am always going to be fighting for kids, law enforcement and community safety," Petty said.
Her constituents approve of her efforts, she said. But they also know the district needs roads and approve of her efforts to increase the state's share of its spending on such infrastructure.
"I understand the process," Petty said of the Legislature and of government. "When a constituent of mine calls and has a problem with the state, such as with ArKids, I solve the problem." ArKids is a child health care coverage program.
Both candidates agreed in separate interviews that the region's most visible need is money for roads. Petty said the other priority issue in the district is public safety such as law enforcement. She is a member of the Judiciary Committee and also of the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee.
The district needs other infrastructure besides roads, Huffman-Gilreath said. Her job in Rogers city government and previous experience in the private sector gives her insight into other needs such as revamped utilities, she said.
Work force development is another major issue that needs more attention, Huffman-Gilreath said. Rogers has a program she designed that encourages and allows workers in city departments to improve their skills, she said.
State House members serve two-year terms and have an annual salary of $39,400. Early voting begins Oct. 22.
NW News on 10/09/2018