Rep. Wallace To Challenge Sen. Burnett In 2016

A first-term state House member from Mississippi County threw his hat in the ring Tuesday to challenge incumbent Sen. David Burnett, D-Osceola, in the November 2016 general election.

Rep. David Wallace, R-Leachville, announced plans to run for state Senate District 22, which covers all of Mississippi and Poinsett counties, as well as Bay, Black Oak, Caraway and Monette in Craighead County.

Wallace, who owns a disaster recovery business in Leachville, said he plans to make Burnett’s voting record in the 35-member Senate a key part of the campaign.

“I am a conservative Republican. David is a liberal Democrat. He will say he isn’t, but he is,” Wallace said, citing Burnett’s votes on the Private Option, Common Core and voter ID as examples.

Wallace said he has spent the past several weeks traveling around the district, meeting with voters, to gauge support.

A meeting with a church group in Payneway, near Marked Tree in Poinsett County, Monday night brought discussion over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and drug testing for people to be eligible for public assistance, Wallace said.

“I have been able to get out, talk to voters and listen to their issues,” Wallace said. “(On the drug testing issue), the people feel like that if you have to get a drug test in order to get a job, you must do it also to get welfare.”

THE DISTRICT
Wallace said after he spent 21 years in the United States Army, he and his family moved back to the Buffalo Island area of Mississippi County.

While living in Leachville, Wallace said he had to work in Memphis to support his family.

Now, the jobs are moving back to the area, Wallace said.

Big River Steel has been building a $1.2 billion steel mill south of Osceola, with the mill being completed by mid-2016; while Ozark Mountain Poultry has a grain elevator near Bay.

Of his company, Wallace said it has about 80 full-time employees that travel around the country if a disaster like a tornado or a blizzard happens.

“I am one of those guys to work to create jobs, create a payroll,” Wallace said, noting his company created about 2,000 W-2 tax forms last year for full and part-time employees.

Wallace attended Arkansas State University, Western Kentucky University and the Army Command and General Staff College.

He is a graduate of Emory-Riddle Aeronautical College in Ohio.

Wallace said he believes the political shift from Democrat to Republican in the district and region will help him with voters next year.

“Our people are truly conservative. The Democrats have left them behind,” Wallace said.

The 2010 victory by Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, helped to open the doors for Republicans in Northeast Arkansas, Wallace said.

BURNETT RESPONDS
Burnett, who served as a prosecutor and circuit judge before winning the state Senate seat in 2010, said he does intend to run next year.

Burnett also said he is ready for the campaign.

“All I have to say is welcome to the crowd, welcome to the race. I intend to run and I intend to run hard,” Burnett said.