Candidates in House District 32 race square off at Jonesboro Kiwanis forum

Incumbent State Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro, squared off against his opponents Democrat David McAvoy and Libertarian Eric McGee on Wednesday (Sept. 4) during the Kiwanis Club of Greater Jonesboro candidate debate for the House District 32 seat.

McAvoy, a paralegal, wasted little time in going after Ladyman for his support of the LEARNS Act, a piece of legislation that fundamentally changed the state’s education system. One of the provisions in the act allows students to take their individual funding from a public school and use it in a private school through a voucher program known as education freedom accounts.

The program will underfund public schools, McAvoy said. In other states that started voucher programs, private schools raised rates and 95% of public schools in those states are underfunded, he said. Arkansas ranks near the bottom in education metrics among all states and McAvoy said one reason is that Ladyman and his colleagues have spent too much time “prioritizing tax giveaways to the wealthy.”

Ladyman fired back noting the legislation raised starting teacher pay to $50,000 which ranks the state among the highest in the country. The five-term legislator said that “public schools are failing” and action had to be taken. He also noted that students from wealthier families already have access to private schools, and this would allow students from more modest financial circumstances to attend a private school.

McGee said he didn’t support the act. He said the state government has been too focused on creating programs as opposed to improving the educational standards within the schools.

As word spread during the debate about a deadly shooting at a high school in Georgia on Wednesday morning, several people asked about gun safety in schools.

McGee said he had no specific plan to stop gun violence in schools, but he didn’t think banning guns would solve the problem. Instead of guns, would-be assailants would just use knives or other weapons.

Increasing the police presence on campuses might be the only answer, he added.

Enforcing the rule of law, hardening the target (the schools) and providing more support to the police are the only ways to solve this problem, Ladyman said. The state representative didn’t offer specifics about ways to “harden the target.”

McAvoy noted that his wife is a teacher and that he grew up with guns. He admitted he had no specific solution, but the problem has been plaguing our society for decades.

“We have to do something,” he said.

Each of the candidates talked about specific legislation and topics that would be a priority if elected. McGee said Jonesboro needs better street lights and sidewalks throughout the city.

“Having good infrastructure is essential,” he said.

In addition to education, McAvoy said he would support stronger Freedom of Information Act laws. He said that attempts have been made to change those laws in recent years to cover up things that have been done by Republicans leading state government.

“We cannot continue to have an unchecked super majority that breeds corruption,” he said.

Ladyman touted several legislative accomplishments since he was first elected to the State House in 2014. If re-elected, he said he will be pushing for the creation of a regional airport in Northeast Arkansas.

“We haven’t solved all the problems and I’m going to go down there and solve some more,” Ladyman said.

The District 32 House district encompasses most of Jonesboro.