Experience scarce in Northwest delegation

Eleven of 16 state House members who represent some part of Benton or Washington counties have served less than two terms, the General Assembly's rosters show.

One of the remaining five, Rep. Jana Della Rosa of Rogers, has two primary challengers this year. The winner in Della Rosa's race and the four Northwest Arkansas House incumbents with six or more years of experience all face general election opposition.

Legislative experience is vital to the region because Northwest Arkansas has unique issues, said Jon Moran, senior vice president of government affairs for the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.

"The most glaring example is the e-fairness bill," a law that requires state and city sales taxes be collected on internet sales, he said. That law's survival from repeal attempts is vital to the local businesses of the region to preserve their competitiveness, he said.

Former Sen. Uvalde Lindsey of Fayetteville, who retired in 2019, agreed.

"Seniority is still a key element in choosing leadership in the Legislature, but its real value is in the relationships with others, which take years to build," Lindsey said.

There is also the matter of becoming knowledgeable about the issues, he said, not just being informed of what they are, but having a working familiarity with them and how to seek solutions.

"It's just a fact that your first years as a legislator, you're not being very productive," he said.

Turnover trouble

Legislative turnover is high throughout the United States, typically 85% to 100% during any 10-year period, said Janine A. Parry, a political science professor and director of the annual Arkansas Poll at the University of Arkansas.

Turnover rates in Arkansas and other Southern states are slower on average than other regions, according to Parry. "Between 1987 and 1997, our turnover rates were only 55% to 70%," she said. The Southern average has remained slower than the national average since, she said.

These rates are "a somewhat comical irony if you consider who term limits were aimed at," Parry said. Arkansas was one of 20 states that adopted limits on Congressional terms between 1990 and 1994, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

Many term-limit laws passed by states and aimed at Congress included legislative offices. The restrictions on members of Congress, who generally serve for long periods of time, were overturned by federal courts. Yet, term limit measures remain on state legislators -- whose time in office usually does not reach the limits imposed, Parry said.

Three of the 11 Northwest Arkansas delegation members who left the House since the 2015 regular session successfully ran for the state Senate. Six decided against running for reelection despite still being eligible. Two lost re-election bids, one in her party primary and another in a general election. None was forced out by term limits.

All of Northwest Arkansas' House members who have served since 2015 are eligible for more terms of office under state laws, which limit legislators to 16 years of service. That is a combined total that includes service in either or both chambers, the House or the Senate.

"What is different, and the business community is trying to put a focus on this, is that we have issues they don't have in other parts of the state," Moran said. "The biggest of those is that we're going to have new seats opening up here."

Northwest Arkansas is the fastest-growing part of the state, U.S. Census figures show. The U.S. Census is being taken this year. Legislative district lines are re-drawn after each census to equalize populations within the districts.

"We're going to gain at least two and possibly three House seats," Moran said.

Those seats in 2022 will probably be filled by newcomers. Other parts of the state will not add seats, meaning they will have more experienced legislators than they have seats to fill.

"On top of that, we have two measures on the 2020 ballot that would have a profound effect on our delegation," Moran said. "First, there a measure to create a citizen's redistricting commission. That would profoundly change the way districts are drawn."

Under the current practice prescribed by the Arkansas Constitution, state legislative districts are approved by a three-member body made up of the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state.

"The second measure on the ballot would be a new term limit law," Moran said. "Unlike existing term limit laws, this one would count legislative terms already served, which would drive most of the experienced lawmakers still in the Northwest delegation out of office."

Senior moment

A lawmaker can serve eight consecutive two-year terms in the House under existing law. Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, is running for his fifth term. He has the highest seniority of any Northwest Arkansas House member. He ranks 16th out of 100.

Rep. Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren, is the next highest in seniority of any representative whose district includes any portion of Washington or Benton counties. Her seniority rank is 22nd. Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville, is the highest seniority House member who lives in Washington County. He is 24th.

Northwest Arkansas' "corner caucus" is more stable among the six senators who represent a part of Benton and Washington counties. Benton County Republican Sens. Cecile Bledsoe, Jim Hendren and Bart Hester remain, although Hendren and Hester drew Democratic opponents this year. Bledsoe is not up for reelection.

In addition to Lindsey in Washington County, former Sen. Jon Woods of Springdale decided against running for reelection in 2015 and was convicted in 2018 in a kickback scheme.

Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, replaced Lindsey while Rep. Lance Eads, R-Springdale, filled the vacancy left by Woods. Bob Ballinger, R-Berryville, also left the House delegation to run for the Senate.

One advantage Northwest Arkansas has over other areas, according to Lindsey, is its regional cooperation. Lindsey is a former executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Council, a group of local leaders set up to help foster cooperation.

Beyond that, chambers of commerce, city and community leaders and other groups forge a consensus on what this area needs from the Legislature, he said. And they are very good at conveying to representatives what is needed and providing facts to support their points in legislative debates.

"There is going to be a game plan, and this region is already immersed in developing that," Lindsey said.

"Cities and counties are involved and some nonprofits," the former senator said. "It's a relatively large group that includes allies of the governor." Gov. Asa Hutchinson is the first native-born resident of Benton County to serve as governor.

"Other regions of this state do not get along so well," Lindsey said.

The issues highlighted by the Northwest Arkansas Council and others are regional, not partisan, the director of the council said.

"The Northwest Arkansas Council convenes business and community partners prior to each legislative session to identify and prioritize common goals and issues of importance to the region," said Nelson Peacock, council president and CEO.

"The resulting nonpartisan legislative agenda -- which focuses primarily on issues that will enhance economic development, education and workforce development, and infrastructure -- presents a unified message of regional priorities ahead of the state's legislative sessions."

The primary election is March 3. Early voting begins Tuesday. House members run for two-year terms. The general election is Nov. 3.

NW News on 02/16/2020