BENTONVILLE -- Ronetta J. Francis, a former lawyer with Walmart, announced she's running for the state Senate District 1 seat held by Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs.
Francis, a Democrat, rose to be a corporate ethics and compliance executive at Walmart. Before that, she was senior trial attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Dallas. She is chief executive of Francis Dynamics Consulting Group, which specializes in executive coaching and leadership development.
Francis, 54, is also the author of the book Bloom Where You Are Planted.
"Senate District 1 is home to the most successful corporation in the history of the world and a world-class museum of American art," according to Francis' announcement. "The world shops with us, we move the nation's economy, and now we are a national tourist destination.
"We need the right leaders in the room, who not only support and embrace the region's continued economic growth, but also its richly evolving demographics.
"Families and communities can't be strong without access to affordable, excellent health care options or secure, healthy food choices," the statement said. "We are learning that more and more Arkansans have to choose between their prescription drugs and putting food on the table. This crisis of affordability disproportionately affects children, women and the elderly -- the most vulnerable individuals in our state -- and I think that's wrong. "
Senate District 1 covers all of Centerton, most of Bentonville and parts of Rogers. It extends to Siloam Springs on the southwest and to Little Flock on northeast.
Candidate filing for partisan offices begins at noon Nov. 4 and ends at noon Nov. 12. Party primaries are March 3. The general election is Nov. 3, 2020.
State senators serve four-year terms and have an annual salary of $39,400.
NW News on 10/11/2019