Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ross Takes Oath; Goes To Work For District After Winter Storm

At noon Jan.3, 2001, Mike Ross took the oath of office as Representative from the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas.

Ross pledged to be a "hands-on" congressman during the ceremony.

"The people of the 4th District have entrusted me with a very important job  a job I will take seriously," Ross said. "I will work day and night to continue to earn the trust of all people.

"I may be a long way from my hometown of Prescott, but I'll always fight for the conservative, small-town values on which many of us were raised.

"I will be a strong advocate for our children, working families and seniors."

Ross's first official act as congressman was to request a conference call with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure his constituents receive the help they need from the federal government following the ice storm that devastated 24 of the 26 counties in the district.

"My first priority," he said, "is to address the needs of the local communities resulting from last week's ice storm. I hope this demonstrates I have already rolled up mu sleeves and hit the ground running.

"Although I did not take office until noon Wednesday, I spent much of last week informing FEMA and Gov. (Mike) Huckabee of the damage from the ice storm.

"My family and I personally experiences the ice storm. At our home in Prescott, the yard is filled with tree limbs, our roof and car were damaged from falling limbs. We were also without electricity and water for several days.

"I will not rest until every citizen and business in our district has its electrical power and water restored. I am committed to working with our mayors and county judges to ensure they receive the assistance they need from the federal government in their clean-up efforts."

Ross had his family with him at the swearing in ceremonies, with Sydney Beth, 12, and Alex, 8, along with his wife, Holly, and parents, Gene and Frances Ross, and father-in-law, Frank Hempen, at the ceremony as well.

Alex officially turned the key to open the Washington, D.C. office at the 514 Cannon House Office Building at 9:15 a.m., Jan. 3.

Ross spent 10 years as a state senator from Arkansas, where he represented Clark, Columbia, Nevada and Ouachita counties.

In the senate he chaired the Senate Children and Youth Committee.

Ross was one of six challengers in the nation to unseat an incumbent in the November General Election.