Arkansas House District 74: Eubanks and Wall

The race for Arkansas House of Representatives District 74 pits Rep. Jon Eubanks, R-Paris, against challenger Daniel Wall (D) in a contest focusing on “job creation and revitalizing” the economy, according to Eubanks.

Eubanks said he would prioritize tax reform, “lowering rates for working Arkansans and businesses and eliminating the sales tax on utilities for manufacturers and farmers,” while Wall attacked Eubanks for “voting against” the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and balancing the state budget.

These responses were part of a survey conducted by The City Wire in anticipation of the 15 contested state legislative races. Candidates were asked about the top issues in their district, legislative goals for the next term and why each believes they are the right candidate for the position. They were also asked to answer “Yes,” “No,” or “Don’t Know” to a range of issues likely to surface in the 2013-2014 General Assembly.

Each candidate’s full, unedited responses are below.

Rep. Jon Eubanks
• What are the top issues in your district?
I believe the number 1 issue for District 74 is job creation and revitalizing our economy. It is critical that we create a job friendly environment in Arkansas and support programs that helps our citizens learn and develop the skills needed for the job market. Public education is also a top issue and we need to improve curriculum where needed and give our teachers the resources they need to be successful in the classroom. Affordable healthcare is high on the voters lists of issues but the feedback I get is they do not want Obamacare to be implemented.

• What are your legislative goals for your next term if elected?
My legislative priorities will be tax reform—lowering rates for working Arkansans and businesses and eliminating the sales tax on utilities for manufacturers and farmers; reducing and /or eliminating job killing regulations and red tape; expanding job training at community colleges and vocational schools to give our people the skills businesses need ; and promoting our natural resources, particularly, natural gas as CNG in order to provide a more affordable transportation fuel.

• Why do you think you are the best person to represent your district?
I have owned and operated a cattle and poultry farm in this district for 36 years giving me firsthand knowledge of the issues involving agriculture which is so important to our local economy. I have been through both vocational schools and the university system. I have a BS degree in accounting from Arkansas Tech University. I have run a business so I know the issues small businesses face on a daily basis. I served on the Paris School Board for 10 years and have been active over the years in various organizations including the Boy Scouts, Farm Bureau, Rotary Club and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Paris. Being married for 38 years and helping to raise 4 children gives you experience that is important when drafting and passing legislation that affects the lives of the people in our state.

YES-NO-DON’T KNOW RESPONSE – Eubanks
Each candidate was asked to provide a yes, no or don’t know response to the following four questions. Anything other than one of the three responses was not accepted.

If budget conditions allow, would you vote for renewal of the Quick Action Closing Fund?
Yes

Are you for the Nov. 6 ballot item that would raise the Arkansas sales tax rate by a half-cent (0.5%) to fund more than $1.8 billion in Arkansas road improvements during the next 10 years?
No

Would you support tougher ethics laws for Arkansas Legislators?
Yes

Would you support expansion of Arkansas’s Medicaid program using federal dollars as part of the new federal healthcare law?
No

Daniel Wall
• What are the top issues in your district?
The top issues in district #74, which include all of Logan County, parts of Sebastion County, Franklin County, and Scott County, are very important ones. As I have gone around the district and visited with concerned citizens. The number one topic that comes up is our economy. I feel that it is vital to our area too work with others to provide more jobs in this area. Many jobs have closed and moved away that has hurts many area families and we must put those people back to work. Thats why my agenda is to work with Gov. Beebe and his agenda to help bring jobs into Arkansas. Im the only candidate in this race with the endorcement from Gov. Beebe. For example my opponent has voted to close the Booneville Human Development Center, which takes care of people with sever behavioral health problems and employees over 300 people just in Logan County. Now thats not creating jobs at all. I will always fight fot the jobs we have and the jobs we need. I also believe we need to take care of our elderly, our farmers, our emergency personel, our teachers, our children, and to protect our Gun Owners.

• What are your legislative goals for your next term if elected?
When elected my legislative goal is to ease the burded on our farmers and business owners. As myself being a cattle farmer i believe we should do what we can to make life easier and more flexable in our agriculture. My opponent voted to do away with the Arkansas Agriculture Department. I will always be in support of the agri dept. Number two will be to balance our state budget. Again my opponent voted against balancing our state budget, I will always support a balanced budget. Its dosnt matter if you live from paycheck to paycheck, or have to meet a weekly payroll, we all have to balance the budget to make things work. Also to shift just a moment on our landowners. I will always be behind them. Im against raising any severance tax on the landowners. Its just wrong.

• Why do you think you are the best person to represent your district?
Number one I feel that im the best person to represent all the people of district 74. Growing up in a rural small town (Branch) and knowing everyone that lived in that small town, has given me the know how of caring for others. Being raised by hard working christian parents who taught me to care about others before myself, I feel is what makes me the best person to be our next State Representative. I will work everyday for everyones needs. I will be out there, not just when election time comes around, but when a need arises or I feel that something Im voting on effects someone directly. I think its important to keep contact with the people of the district. I will answer my phone when im called upon. We are at a crossroads in this election and these are desperate times. We need someone who will lead from the front and not the back. We need leadership that unlike my opponent has voted just party line, to look at both sides and see how it affects us back at home. It dont matter to me if a republican or democrat comes up with and ideal, we should look at it as for whats best for us (Arkansans).

YES-NO-DON’T KNOW RESPONSE – Wall
Each candidate was asked to provide a yes, no or don’t know response to the following four questions. Anything other than one of the three responses was not accepted.

If budget conditions allow, would you vote for renewal of the Quick Action Closing Fund?
Yes

Are you for the Nov. 6 ballot item that would raise the Arkansas sales tax rate by a half-cent (0.5%) to fund more than $1.8 billion in Arkansas road improvements during the next 10 years?
Yes

Would you support tougher ethics laws for Arkansas Legislators?
Yes

Would you support expansion of Arkansas’s Medicaid program using federal dollars as part of the new federal healthcare law?
Yes