Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Addington Running For Representative

Ron Addington, a Henderson State University professor and an Arkadelphia School board member has announced his intention to run for State Representative in District 36, which consists of most of Nevada and Clark Counties.

Addington, a journalism professor, made his announcement at the Arkadelphia Country Club to a large crowd of friends and supporters.

In his announcement, Addington, a Democrat, said, "I want to be everyone's voice in the State Legislature and will work hard if elected to represent you well." He emphasized that he especially wanted to represent the school districts in Nevada and Clark Counties, the county and city governments of both counties, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia Human Development Center and all the numerous state agency offices in the two counties.

These agencies include the Arkansas Forestry Commission, DeGray State Park, White Oak Lake State Parks, revenue offices, the highway department, employment security department, Department of Human Services, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and educational television.

In addition Addington, a retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. and Vietnam era veteran, pledged his support in the state legislature for the Prescott and Arkadelphia Army National Guard Unit, which is a combined company.

He stated his intent to work closely with the Office of Emergency Services and the rural fire departments in the two counties, promising to work to provide additional funding.

He has been involved with industrial development in Clark county. Addington declared that he will assist the Prescott-Nevada Economic Development Office and the Clark County Industrial Council with any state assistance possible to help bring new industry to the area and assist existing to grow and prosper.

Addington expressed his interest in appointments to the Joint Budget, State Agencies and Education Committees in the legislature.

Addington told the crowd last week that he feels he is qualified to be their representative. He said that during his 25 years of marriage he has served 15 years in some type of elected position, which demonstrates his willingness to represent his community. He has served on the city boards in both Arkadelphia and De Queen, served as constitutional convention delegate and is currently completing a three-year term on the Arkadelphia School board.

Addington, who is himself an Eagle Scout, served as a Boy Scout leader in Arkadelphia for five years with Troop 24, affiliated with the First United Methodist Church. He also served for four years on the Clark County United Way board. In addition, he has been a Rotarian for 24 years.

"I worked in the legislature during the entire session of 1975," he said in a prepared statement. "As the president of Cossatot Technical School in De Queen, I lobbied the Arkansas Legislature for funding for our institution."

He also served a four-year-term on the State Jobs JTPA Board.

Addington is also the owner of a rental property business in Arkadelphia and has a keen awareness of how excessive government regulations can interfere with free enterprise. He vowed to work against any legislation that would harm business.

A native of Nashville, Addington is married to Cecilia Hearne Addington, formerly of Fordyce, who is an admissions counselor at Henderson State University. They have two children, Amie, a 22-year-old senior at HSU, and John, an 18-year-old freshman at Henderson.

He received his bachelor's degree from Henderson in 1968, his master's from Indiana University in 1972, did further graduate studies at Ball State University and received his doctorate in 1976 from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. In 1999 he completed post-doctoral studies in the department of journalism at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

"If elected, I will travel the state of Arkansas this summer and fall, meeting legislators that I don't already know," Addington said. "I feel that establishing interpersonal relationships are essential in building strong bonds with other legislators."

He closed the news conference last week by telling the crowd of over 100 people that he needed their help winning the election and most importantly needed their vote on May 23 in the Democratic primary.