NWAOnline’s Legislative Coverage

R-Gravette
Senate District 9
Serving his second term in the state Senate in the age of term limits, although he served earlier in the Senate from 1979 to 1983. Served one term in the House from 2001 to 2003.
Committees: Chairman of Energy; Rules; Joint Budget; Legislative Council; Education.
Special connections: An engineer and businessman whose interests include car dealerships.
How to reach him: E-mail address: hendrenk@arkleg.state.ar.us. Business number: 479-787-6500. “If my office doesn’t answer you’ll get my voice mail, which I check.”
What you should know: Has a special chagrin against state laws and regulations that try to micromanage school districts.
His priority: “Everybody’s priority is education, both higher education and general.” Will repeat earlier attempts to pass a law requiring that cell phones used in cars be hands-free. Wants state scholarships to higher education to include some “sweat equity” requirements.
Firmest prediction: “We will ask for more efficiency in the education area to save public money. There will also be resistance to any increase in taxes.”