Our Shared Arkansas Values

At Common Ground Arkansas, we are focused on promoting values that we all hold dear here in Arkansas. To that end, we’ve evaluated several leaders on their commitment to core Common Ground Arkansas tenets.

We’re scoring how well leaders align with our problem solving values.

Rogers, Pea Ridge

Fiscal Responsibility: A

• CFO of one of the state’s largest engineering firms with decades of experience balancing large budgets
• Respected certified public accountant, of which there are currently none in the legislature

Decency and Dignity: A; Economic Development & Better Jobs: A

• Empowered employees of his company to take ownership of the company

Problem Solving: A

• Serves on the Civil Service Commission where he works to support local law enforcement

People First: A

• Will dedicate at least half of Senate salary to support mental health services for law enforcement and first responders
• Volunteers his efforts to solve problems in the community through service on local Catholic school board and visits to local fire stations

Fiscal Responsibility: F

• Received more personal reimbursements / per diem payments from taxpayers than any Democrat in the legislature in 2021
• Led opposition to tobacco cessation program that saves lives and taxpayer dollars annually

Problem Solving: F

• Opposed expanding court facilities and upgrading security in Benton County despite rapid growth
• Voted against a compromise hate crimes bill

People First: F

• Was one of only 14 Republicans to vote against funding nursing homes, hospitals, and programs that benefit disabled and elderly Arkansans
• Called the Covid vaccine “untested gene therapy” and claimed “25 percent of people that are vaccinated die.”
• Made offensive comments about African Americans: “not what we view as normal”

Small Government: F; Economic Development: F

• Tried to increase government regulation of private businesses

Bentonville, Bella Vista

Economic Development and Better Jobs: A

• As Mayor of Bella Vista, invested in roads and infrastructure to accommodate rapid growth

Problem Solver: A

• Created a Citizen Police Academy to teach residents how to help serve their community
• Led efforts to extinguish the stump dump fire in Bella Vista
• Businessman with decades of experience coming in and “fixing” struggling businesses in the private sector

People First: A

• Invested in trails, golf courses, and gun ranges to increase quality of life for Bella Vista residents

Fiscal Responsibility: F

• Leads the state in taking taxpayer dollars for his personal use despite not chairing a single committee
• His average taxpayer funded payouts per year of $78,000 is higher than anyone other legislator in the Arkansas General Assembly (including the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate)
  
• Funneled $13,500 in GIF money to Ecclesia College, the college at the center of a kickback scandal that sent 3 people to prison

Economic Development and Better Jobs: F

• Voted against investments in highways in Arkansas, like the Bella Vista Bypass
• Voted against the Big River Steel Project, the largest economic development project in the history of Arkansas, that created 900 new jobs in our state
• Voted against supporting the state’s farmers who grow rice, wheat, soybean and catfish

Problem Solver: F

• Voted against providing federal dollars to Marshallese and Latino communities to help limit the ravages of Covid 19 when the disease newly hit Northwest Arkansas

Springdale

Fiscal Responsibility: A

• Leads one of the largest churches in Springdale and manages dozens of employees and a multi-million dollar budget 

Problem Solver: A

• Endorsed by community leaders including the Springdale mayor, highway commissioner, and economic leaders
• Endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police for his support of law enforcement 

People First: A

• Fosters outreach programs that provide needed services to the community 
  

People First: F

• Was one of only 14 Republicans to vote against funding nursing homes, hospitals, and programs that benefit disabled and elderly Arkansans
• Voted against a compromise hate crimes bill, despite representing one of the most racially diverse parts of the state
• Sponsored a bill that would have made all city offices partisan, increasing division at the local level
• Cosponsored a bill that would have limited early voting

Economic Development and Better Jobs: F

• Voted against investments in highways in Arkansas

Small Government: F

• Sponsored multiple bills to increase government regulation of private business