Jim Reynolds, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for District 21 State Representative. Reynolds resides in the Excelsior Community near Greenwood and owns an advertising business. He retired from education after 25 years with experience in several school districts, including Hackett and Mansfield in which all or part is included in District 21. Reynolds and Melissa, his wife of 29 years, have one daughter Laura Elizabeth. Reynolds stated, “I have wanted to run ever since I retired from education. I realized that I needed to gain experience working at my business and learn the challenges that business owners faced. I am better prepared to represent District 21 constituents because of that experience.”
District 21 is the second largest district in the state. It covers the southwest portion of Sebastian County, most of Scott County, northern Polk, Montgomery and Garland County, southern Perry and Yell County. This includes southern Fort Smith, Jenny Lind, Hackett, Hartford, Huntington, the area around Mansfield, Waldron, Acorn and Jessieville. Jim Reynolds, stated, “I have been all over this area as part of my radio show for ten years and also on the yellow bus during my coaching career. I have met many people in the district over the years and now I want to serve them as their State Representative. I will listen to their needs and do what is best for District 21.”
Reynolds started an outdoor radio program in 2007 while he was teaching and coaching full-time. He broadened his work in radio into an advertising agency which is now located in Greenwood, Arkansas. Part of his campaign platform will be to promote issues that are conducive to small business growth, to listen to teachers and their needs to address problems in education and to build a support system for new teachers. He will protect our 2ndamendment rights and will promote our tourism industrythrough advocacy for the outdoors. He is a strong advocate for agricultural, technical and vocational issues as well. “I have areas that I believe need to be addressed. However, I will listen to the needs of the residents of District 21, prioritize them and develop a plan to implement them.” Reynolds said. Jim Reynolds is a lifetime fishing and hunting license holder. He also holds Lifetime memberships in the NRA, South Sebastian County Retired Teachers Association, and the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association (ARTA). Jim is the Area I Director for ARTA over Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Polk, Pope, Scott, Sebastian and Yell Counties. He also has a Lifetime pass through the Arkansas High School Coaches Association. Finally, Jim also holds a Lifetime Teacher and Administrators License.“I’ve had people ask me when I was going to run for office. I prayed about it, talked with my family and decided now was the time. I understand there are many things I’ll have to learn, but I’ve always been very adaptable,” Reynolds stated.
Candidate filing for partisan office begins at noon, Nov. 4 and ends at noon, Nov. 12, 2019. Partisan primaries in Arkansas are the first Tuesday in March during presidential election years, setting next year’s primary for March 3, 2020. Early voting will start February 18, 2020. Candidate filing for partisan office begins at noon, Nov. 4 and ends at noon, Nov. 12, 2019.
