Jonesboro Senate candidates square off at NEA Political Animals

State Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, and his Democratic opponent, Erika Askeland, traded sharp barbs during a contentious debate Friday (Sept. 6) at the NEA Political Animals meeting in Jonesboro. The two are vying for the Senate District 20 seat.

Nearly 200 people attended the event.

Sullivan has vowed to support legislation that would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in colleges and universities across the state.

“We want to base things on need and merit,” Sullivan said.

Askeland fired back, telling the longtime lawmaker that many groups, including minorities, are underrepresented in higher education and DEI programs bridge that gap.

“You are a white man … you don’t understand your entitlement,” she said.

A third-grade teacher, Askeland sparred with Sullivan over the state’s COVID-19 response. She said that vaccines worked, masking was effective at slowing the spread of the virus, and that lawmakers need to rely on “facts not feelings.”

Sullivan retorted, noting conversations he had with officials at the Arkansas Department of Health. He said he was told that the vaccines were ineffective, masking didn’t work, and the shutdown of the school system was detrimental to students. If there were another pandemic it would be handled differently, he added.

“Gov. Sanders said she’s not going to do that (shutdown) again,” he said.

On rebuttal, Askeland offered a three-word response to Sullivan’s claims about what the head of the department of health told him.

“That’s a lie,” she said.

Under the LEARNS Act, state money that is allocated for each student in the public school system can now be turned into a voucher and be used by a student to attend a private school. Askeland said part of the legislation was needed – the $50,000 starting pay for teachers – but other parts like vouchers will do deep damage to the state’s public school system. She noted the state constitution does not allow for public money to flow into private business coffers.

Sullivan said that the Arkansas Supreme Court has already ruled that the voucher program is not a violation of state law. He said the majority of students who have used the vouchers so far are students with disabilities.

At times, the debate veered towards “culture war” topics. Askeland was asked if she would tell a student’s parents if that student wanted to use a different name or pronoun. She said parents are “the ultimate authority” when it comes to their child and that she would follow the rule of law.

The sitting senator said Askeland was part of a movement to promote a “gender ideology” and that these are important issues that parents should know about. He said that when the legislature was in session, lawmakers were told about a 12-year-old girl who wanted to have a double mastectomy. As he spoke, there were audible groans from the crowd.

Askeland said that legislation outlawing minors from gender affirming medical care was a non-issue in the state.

“I trust parents to do what’s best for their child, not Dan Sullivan,” she said.