Jake Files seeks Arkansas Senate seat covering Fort Smith

Jake Files brings to three the number of candidates seeking to fill the District 13 (Fort Smith) Arkansas Senate seat, and brings significant support from members of the business community.

Files, who announced Tuesday (Sept. 22) his intent to run, said Fort Smith deserves a person who will help the state’s second largest city gain more influence in state affairs.

“It is important that we send people to Little Rock who will make a difference, and will help establish that Fort Smith is relevant in every single decision being made,” Files said in a statement. “We need someone who will be forward thinking, progressive, and who will help better fashion economic development in this tough climate.”

The District 13 Senate seat is now held by Sen. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith, who is term limited. Reps. Jim Medley, R-Fort Smith, and Frank Glidewell, R-Fort Smith, have announced they will run for the senate seat. Medley and Glidewell are term-limited in their respective House seats.

Files, 37, served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999-2003, and is a partner in a construction company and real estate development firm he started. He has served on several boards and commissions, and he is a member of the Greater Fort Smith Homebuilders Association, and is a Realtor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arkansas State University. He also was employed by Baldor Electric Co., where he was hired as part of a management team to start a plant from the ground up. He also served several years as a former private school administrator where he was responsible for a faculty of 25 and student enrollment of more than 350 on a daily basis.

Improving the Fort Smith regional economy is Files top issue, he noted in his statement. He said the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, the newly formed Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority and efforts to boost the regional tourism sector are good things for the region and can be maximized with better political leadership in Little Rock.

“I believe that Fort Smith is in a unique position to be able to compete for jobs in these times because of the community’s commitment to progress. To maximize our regional efforts, I want to represent Fort Smith in the Arkansas Senate and use our progressive message to gain more attention among state government leaders,” Files said.

During his House terms Files was able to help secure $2 million dollars for the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, and was one of the leaders in the movement to transition Westark College from a community college to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith.

Files vision for the Fort Smith area includes “improving relations with state officials to ensure Fort Smith and the metro area are better represented on important state boards and commissions,” Interstate 49, seeking leadership roles that will help secure adequate funding for regional educational institutions and working with city and chamber officials to better meet the economic development needs and goals of the region.

“I think it is critical that we elect someone who has demonstrated the ability to work across party lines, who isn’t afraid to make tough choices, and who will be diligent in their efforts to see more opportunities come to our region. I hope to be that person and demonstrate over the course of this campaign that I stand above the other candidates in terms of my vision for the future,” Files said.

Bob Powell, the chairman of the board and former CEO of USA Truck, and Fort Smith accountant Rick Beauchamp have agreed to serve as Files’ campaign chairman and campaign treasurer, respectively.
 
“Not only will Jake be a solid voice for the business community, he will bring to the table leadership and legislation that will promote family and quality of place for our region,” Powell said in a statement. “I am looking forward to Jake being a leader for us in Little Rock.”

Files said his Web site will soon be a source of information for those who want to communicate with him.