Pat Hays To Announce For Congress Tuesday

No surprise.

The formal media advisory for former North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays has arrived.

Hays, a Democrat, will make it official at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Citizens Center in North Little Rock: he’s running for Arkansas’ Second Congressional District, just one day after Rep. Tim Griffin (R) announced he wouldn’t seek a third term.

“On Tuesday, October 22nd at 12:30p.m. the former Mayor of North Little Rock Patrick Henry Hays will announce his campaign to represent the residents of the second congressional district of Arkansas and return the problem solving values he practiced in City Hall back to Washington,” the announcement reads.

Hays served 6 terms, or 24 years, as mayor of North Little Rock and oversaw an unprecedented rejuvenation of the city’s downtown Argenta and riverfront areas. He was also mayor during the construction of Verizon Arena, the Dickey Stephens baseball park, and he helped lure a major Caterpillar factory to the city.

Prior to his election as Mayor, Hays served as an Assistant City Attorney for North Little Rock.  A lawyer by profession, he was elected State Representative for District 66 and served in the 76th Arkansas General Assembly.

A native of North Little Rock, Hays graduated from North Little Rock High School and earned his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He earned the rank of captain in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He has been married to Linda Hays, a retired school teacher, for over 30 years. Their daughter Josie and son-in-law, Dr. Brent Staggs, have three grandchildren – Savannah, Isabella and Harper.