Friend,

The highest honor I have ever known is being elected to serve the people of Pope County as their State Representative.

During my first two years in office, I’ve supported a number of initiatives that will improve your quality of life, make it easier to keep more of what you earn, and improve the safety of our playgrounds, streets and neighborhoods.

They include:

More Transparency in Government, because you have a right to know.

Better Care for Veterans, including access to doctors when they need them.

Increased Funding for Mental Health, better service for drug addiction and the emotionally impaired.

Better Schools, including additional investments in Russellville’s children, raises for starting teachers, more resources for classroom instruction.

Lower Tax Rates, for working Arkansans, incentives for small business growth and job creation.

Safer Streets and Neighborhoods, including stiffer penalties for drug dealers and sex offenders.

Increased Efforts to Fight Animal Cruelty, because those who abuse pets should be held accountable.

During the session we won other victories important to many. It was my privilege to serve as the lead sponsor of bills which exempted the Disabled Veterans Organization from the sales tax. I co-sponsored the Newborn Safe Haven Act, the bill establishing Mental Health Awareness Week and led the effort to preserve the Freedom of Information Act.

In addition, I served on the Nuclear Legislative Working Group.  Arkansas Nuclear One provides more than 1,000 good paying jobs to people in Pope County, and provides power for more than 700,000 customers of Entergy Arkansas. Nuclear power is essential to a clean energy future, and a critically important component of Pope County’s economy.

I continue to serve important civic and community organizations, including the Kiwanis Club, River Valley Food 4 Kids, Mid-Arkansas River Valley Abilities (MARVA) and the River Valley Christian Clinic. The work done by our civic and community organizations has been instrumental in making our community the special place it is.

I love serving you in the Arkansas House of Representatives. With your help, we will continue our efforts to keep Russellville and greater Pope County a great place to live and raise a family.

I hope to have your vote in the election this year.

Early voting begins Monday, October 21.

Election day is Tuesday, November 5.

Matt Duffield