Arkansas Senate preps for 2011; Sen. Whitaker elected minority leader

Members and members-elect of the Arkansas Senate gathered in Little Rock on Thursday (Nov. 4) to elect leaders and make committee appointments, with Sen. Ruth Whitaker, R-Cedarville, named vice chair of the important Judiciary Committee.

Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, will be the new Senate President. Democrats selected Sen. Robert Thompson of Paragould as Majority Leader. Recently defeated Democratic Congressional nominee Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock will serve as Majority Whip.

Whitaker will be Senate Minority Leader, and Sen. Michael Lamoureux of Russellville was chosen as Minority Whip.

Following are the committee assignments for Senators representing all or portions of the Fort Smith region.

• Sen. Ruth Whitaker, R-Cedarville (Crawford and Franklin counties; part of Washington County)
Judiciary Committee (vice chair)
Insurance & Commerce Committee

• Sen. Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville (Yell County and parts of Logan and Pope counties)
Revenue & Taxation Committee (vice chair)
City County & Local Affairs Committee

• Sen.-elect Jake Files, R-Fort Smith (Fort Smith)
Revenue & Taxation Committee
Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs Committee

• Sen.-elect Bruce Holland, R-Greenwood (parts of Logan, Scott and Sebastian counties)
Education Committee
Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs Committee

Bookout told members he wasn’t elected in a partisan fashion, nor did he plan to be.

"Republican or Democrat, makes no difference to me. I was elected to serve all of the Senate," Bookout said according to this report from Talk Business.

Two new Republican freshmen, Sen.-elect Missy Irvin and Sen.-elect Jason Rapert said they viewed Tuesday’s elections — in which Republicans won all 7 contested Senate races — as a mandate to do a job, not serve a partisan agenda.

"The wave that hit Arkansas and the wave that hit this country was very specific," said Rapert. "In my district, if it weren’t for Democrats, Independents and Republicans, I wouldn’t be standing here before you. I was elected in a very bipartisan fashion. I believe that the freshmen Senators that are to come in as well as the seasoned Senators that are here are going to work together to move Arkansas forward."



Irvin said focusing on jobs and the economy will be a top priority.

"People voted on their values and they voted on a reaction to what’s happening in our economy," Irvin said.

She also explained that she wasn’t surprised that Republicans swept all 7 contested Senate seats.

"We connected with people on a lot of different levels and in a very personal way," she said.