About the Arkansas Senate
The Arkansas General Assembly convenes on the second Monday of every other year. A session lasts for 60 days unless the legislature votes to extend it. The governor can issue a "call" for a special session during the interims between regular sessions.
The major issues are funding of public schools, institutions of higher education, highway and bridge construction, health and human services, state prisons, the State Police and state parks. The state Senate in Little Rock has 35 members, each representing a district with about 76,383 people.
The state Senate should not be confused with the U.S. Senate in Washington. Arkansas has two U.S. Senators who represent the entire state, and their offices work on different issues. The U.S. Senate is where to call if you have a question about veterans affairs, Social Security, passports, farm subsidies and foreign affairs. The telephone numbers of the U.S. Senate offices in Little Rock are 375-2993 and 324-6336.
Service in the state legislature is part-time, and most state senators have full-time jobs during the rest of the year. The 35-member Arkansas Senate has eight Republicans and 27 Democrats. The state Senate has seven women members, the most in Arkansas history, and four African-Americans.
Three senators are attorneys. One is a pastor, one works in economic development, one works in child care, and one is a school superintendent.
Four senators are in the insurance business. One senator has a funeral home and one senator a nursing home. Two are in the construction industry and one senator is a bank president. Four senators are farmers or ranchers and one has an agriculture-related business.
Four senators are former music teachers. Two own automobile dealerships. Three have real estate interests. One is an engineer. One senator used to own a radio station. One senator owns a pharmacy. One runs a telephone company and one is retired from a telephone company. One is a retired land surveyor.
Of the 35 senators, 29 have served previously in the state House of Representatives. Two are former Speakers of the House.
Permanent Staff
Ann Cornwell | Director, Arkansas Senate, Secretary of the Senate | 501-682-5951
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Steve Cook | Chief Counsel | 501-682-5955
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John Reed | Public Information Officer | 501-682-5954
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Bruce Campbell | Intergovernmental Affairs Advisor | 501-682-5950
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Angie Clingmon | Assistant Fiscal Officer | 501-682-5952
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Cindy Herron | Assistant Public Information Officer | 501-682-5408
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Mary Jacks | Administrative Assistant | 501-682-6107
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Sabrina Lewellen | Constituent Services/Research/Special Projects Manager| 501-682-5608
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Lesley Rogers | Constituent Advisor | 501-682-5957
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Barrett Dudley | Constituent Advisor | 501-682-5592
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Leigh Ann Golden | Constituent Advisor | 501-682-5870
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Tammy Young | Legislative Assistant to Constituent Office | 501-682-5600 / 682-5779
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William Parks | Properties Officer | 501-682-6107
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