Politics A Big Part Of NEA District Fair

Pronto pups and politics were a major part of the NEA District Fair Tuesday as nearly a dozen or so candidates walked around, met with people and heard from residents about issues.

Several State House, State Senate and county candidates as well as the Craighead County Republican Party rented booths at the event, which wraps up Saturday.

There were also issue-based groups at the fair. A group supporting the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act of 2016 spent Tuesday gathering signatures for their petition. The group is seeking to get its proposal, which would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, on the 2016 ballot.

Rachel Doyle of Jonesboro said the group had collected 71 signatures since Monday and got nearly 600 signatures last year at the fair. She said the signature gathering is more about education and talking to people than actual politics.

“We are helping to get the word out. You can’t make up your mind if you don’t know,” Doyle said.

A recent poll from Talk Business and Politics showed that 84% of adults in Arkansas supported the idea of allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if a doctor prescribes it.

STATE HOUSE
Reps. Brandt Smith, R-Jonesboro, and Dwight Tosh, R-Jonesboro, arrived at the NEA District Fair Tuesday afternoon after working in their districts. Tosh, who worked for the Arkansas State Police for many years before retiring, said the fair gives him a chance to visit with constituents.

“You get to find out their concerns and you find out what people are passionate about,” Tosh said during a break. He spent Tuesday touring a school in Swifton, meeting with students and teachers as part of a “Take Your Legislator to School” program.

Smith said the fair gives him an opportunity to visit with constituents on a one-on-one level. “This is the fun stuff. You do not have to wear a suit and tie,” Smith said.

Smith said he has had an opportunity to see people that he met during his first campaign and that most if not all of the elected officials at the fair take their responsibilities seriously. “It is a servant’s role. If you do not have a servant’s heart, you begin to think that you are all-powerful,” Smith said.

The only candidate so far to announce a run against Smith is attorney Nate Looney, D-Jonesboro.

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY OFFICIALS
Craighead County Sheriff Marty Boyd, D-Jonesboro, Craighead County Treasurer Terry McNatt, D-Brookland, and Craighead County Assessor Hannah Towell, R-Jonesboro, also had booths Tuesday.

Boyd said he rents a booth each year at the fair. County residents will visit the booth and talk to Boyd about everyday problems. Boyd said the fair gives people an opportunity to ask questions at a time of their choosing, especially after a long workday.

He said he’s heard a lot of support for law enforcement this week from people who attended the fair. Boyd spent part of Tuesday passing out candy to people as they walked past the booth.

“Marty is trying to help the local dental association,” one man said as he walked by.

McNatt, who worked as a sheriff’s deputy before becoming Treasurer, said the opportunity to meet people is key. “There has been a constant flow of folks here. This might be one of the only times people get to see you,” McNatt said, noting the one on one connection with people builds bridges.

Towell, who is in her first term, said the booth this year was more educational than political. A computer was available Tuesday for people to check on their property assessments, as well as updating their property records.

Towell, who is a Level 2 Appraiser and is working on her Level 4 certification, said people have asked her a good mix of questions so far this week. The vast majority have involved assessments, while some have asked her about her job as assessor so far, Towell said.