Delia Haak won a hotly contested Republican primary in Arkansas House District 91 and now faces Democrat Nick Jones in the Nov. 3 general election.
Though both are political newcomers, one of the candidates has an excellent grasp of the job and the challenges it presents.
That's Delia Haak.
We like her background as a teacher at John Brown University. She's also got an impressive list of academic achievements, including a doctorate in education and a master's degree in business administration.
We also like her experience as executive director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership and chairwoman of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Compact. Her family's farming background along with her interest in protecting a vital watershed gives her the right balance of interests for determining environmental policy. District 91 is largely rural, stretching from Interstate 49 in south Rogers all the way to the Oklahoma state line north of Siloam Springs. She understands the way many of her constituents make their living.
She also strikes us as the kind of practical, responsible leader whose choices will be guided by what's best for her district. That's a quality we value in any lawmaker, regardless of party. She'll make an excellent state legislator.
We've talked before about how Bentonville, especially its downtown, is changing. The sleepy rural county seat of three generations ago is long gone. Now, it's a minimetro, home to a world-class art museum, attractive walking and biking trails, a lively dining and entertainment district and trendy, upscale residential neighborhoods.
House District 93 includes most of Bentonville, including that evolving downtown scene.
The people are different, too. They come from all over the country, and, in some cases, the planet, to work for the world's largest retailer or any of a number of companies who want to be in Walmart's close proximity. They bring with them experiences and attitudes that are often different than what long-time residents -- and politicians -- have come to expect.
Jim Dotson, the Republican incumbent in Arkansas House District 93, has been reelected three times playing to long-held political attitudes in Bentonville. However, he doesn't seem to be adjusting to the community's new reality. And that may make some room for his challenger Nov. 3, Democrat Daisy Bonilla.
Bonilla's background as a social worker gives her an important perspective on how state government affects the state's most vulnerable populations. She seems capable and smart and expresses the desire to work across party lines to be effective. Of course, she'd have to -- if she wins she'd be in the minority in the House and by a wide margin.
Dotson's voting record has been steady. He sticks with conservative positions on everything that comes before the Legislature. But we worry that he exists in an echo chamber in which he only hears questions or ideas from like-minded people. And as we've pointed out, diversity of thought in District 93 is growing.
We see this race as a choice between what Bentonville has been and what Bentonville will be. If that's the choice, Bonilla is the right one.
There will be a new representative in the state House for District 94. Incumbent Rebecca Petty did not seek reelection. John Carr survived a Republican primary in March to make the Nov. 3 ballot. Jene Huffman-Gilreath, a Democrat, is making her second run for the seat, having lost to Petty in 2018.
District 94 includes much of central Rogers and a slice of southeast Bentonville.
Carr, though this is his first run for office, is a political veteran, having served in leadership positions within the state and local Republican Party organizations. He's certainly well connected in those circles and no one could argue with his conservative credentials. He's got a background in technology, which, from what we can tell, could be a breath of fresh air in the Legislature.
Gilreath, who works for a local municipal utility, also has some political chops having worked for a Republican US senator during college. She says she was once a Republican herself, but believed the party moved away from her. We suspect that such a political background would make her an independent voice in the General Assembly, beholden to no partisan demands. We're not so sure about Carr's independence, given his close connections to his party's leadership.
If history is any indication, many voters in his district won't have a problem with that. But there are also Democrats, Libertarians, independents and undecideds in the district. They deserve representation as well. We think Huffman-Gilreath would be more likely to represent everyone's interests.
The race in House District 96 offers a difficult choice for voters. And that's good.
Republican Joshua Bryant and Democrat Jon Comstock. Bryant is a small business owner and a US Marine veteran who is finishing up his third term on the Benton County Quorum Court. Comstock, a former circuit judge who owns a mediation practice, has run for the Legislature before.
District 96 is among the largest in the region, encompassing the eastern half of Benton County, including Beaver Lake.
We like Bryant's experience as a business owner, which gives him a necessary perspective on how legislation affects the local economy. And we like Comstock's experience in mediation, an often vital skill when hammering out compromises to move bills forward in the General Assembly. And make no mistake, compromising while making law is necessary.
The nod goes to Bryant, because we think he fits better with the constituency in District 96. However, we think Comstock would do a good job, too. No matter which one ends up with the most votes, the residents of the district will be the winners.
We have no endorsement for the House race in District 90 between newcomers Kelly Krout, a Democrat, and Kendon Underwood, a Republican.
District 90 includes southwest Rogers and much of Lowell.
Underwood unseated incumbent Jana Della Rosa in the March GOP primary. Krout ran as a Democrat unopposed. Both seems smart, capable and committed. Krout may be more progressive that many voters in District 90 are used to. Underwood's conservative credentials are clear. But the learning curve for either would be pretty steep. We're not sure which one would be the best choice.
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What’s the point: We wrap up endorsements in local legislative races.