Charlene Fite Running For State Representative, District 80

A Facebook announcement tells me that Charlene Fite of Alma is running for State Representative in District 80.  This is a new district composed of the northern part of Crawford County (part of Van Buren, Cedarville) that runs through the national forest into Washington County (Cane Hill, Lincoln, and Prairie Grove).

"My parents taught me that I can make a difference. Throughout my life I’ve sought to make a difference as a School Psychology Specialist, Special Education teacher, interpreter for the Deaf, missionary, church and community member, parent and friend," said Fite. "Because of my 22 plus years as an educator, educational issues are of course very important to me. I am also very concerned about the jobs leaving Arkansas. I will seek ways to make Arkansas a place where our young people want to stay and raise their families. I am very pro-life and pro-traditional marriage. "

So far no other candidates have announced for this race and as best as we can tell by looking at the map, there is not an incumbent in this district.

You may recognize the name Fite.  Charlene’s husband, Tom Fite, was the Republican candidate whose name was thrown off the ballot in 2010 after a Pulaski County judge ruled a guilty plea in 1984 to a Medicaid fraud charge was an "infamous crime."  Rep. Leslee Post won the race by default with around 40 percent of the vote.  Due to redistricting, Post is now in District 82, where Republican Bill Gossage is expected to oppose her.

Fite plans to make a formal announcement in Prairie Grove on Labor Day. You can view Talk Business & Politics’ updated list of potential House candidates here.