Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Roebuck files for House

Johnnie J. Roebuck has filed for re-election to the Arkansas House of Representatives, District 20. She is a Democrat and is in her first term.

I am honored to serve the people of Clark and Nevada counties and want to continue to work for my constituents, Roebuck said. She is a member of the House Public Transportation and House Aging, Children, Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committees. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Aging Subcommittee and is a non-voting member of the Joint Senate and House Interim Education Committee. She is an alternate to the Joint Committee on Public Retirement and Social Security. Roebuck serves as Chair of the Task Force on College Remediation, Retention and Graduation Rates which was created through ACT 570, legislation which Roebuck sponsored.

Roebuck was one of three freshman legislators honored by the Arkansas Association of Retired Persons for her work in the 2007 session including her sponsorship of ACT 845, the Health Facility Infection Disclosure Act. She also received an award from the Arkansas Municipal League and was named as one of the top 10 legislators by the Sierra Club for her work in sponsoring and supporting legislation to protect our environment.

Roebuck said that she continues to be extremely concerned about economic growth in District 20. We have everything that quality industry desires including industrial and business park locations with access to interstate and rail transportation as well as a favorable tax structure. Our public schools are excellent and we are fortunate to have two outstanding regional universities in addition to a technical workforce training center. I pledge to continue to work with city, county and state officials to retain and recruit industry and business to this area, said Roebuck. Good paying jobs are essential to maintaining our quality of life and I will continue to do everything to support these efforts.

Roebuck retired in December after 41 years in public education and says this will allow her more time to serve the citizens of District 20. After serving in the public schools as a teacher and administrator for 23 years, she joined the Henderson State University faculty in 1990 and served as the coordinator and professor of educational leadership as well as graduate dean. As an educator, I understand the critical relationship between the educational level of our citizenry and economic growth, said Roebuck. The mandate for reforming our educational system continues to allow us a crucial opportunity to improve learning opportunities for all children, who are our most important asset. They are the future of our wonderful state and we must ensure that the education they receive from pre-school through college gives them the tools they need to become productive citizens, Roebuck continued. I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every child has access to quality programs, pledged Roebuck.

During my first term, I have been a serious student of the legislative process because I understand the impact of the General Assembly on all issues, stated Roebuck. As a legislator, I have been totally committed to the needs  large and small  involving our district and its people. I am accessible and open to all citizens.

Roebuck has been actively involved in professional and civic organizations. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and Arts by Governor Jim Guy Tucker and served as Chair for two terms.

She was a charter board member of Group Living, Inc. and served as finance committee chair. She has served on the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and worked as chair of the retirement/relocation committee. She co-chaired a joint effort with the Clark County Industrial Council involving school to work efforts. During her service in the public schools, Roebuck served as President of the Arkadelphia Education Association and as a member of the Arkansas Education Association Board of Directors. She was founding president of the Southwest Federal Credit Union and a co-founder and charter board member of the HSU Alliance for Continuing Excellence in Teacher Education. In addition, Roebuck was selected as a member of the Rotary International Group Study Exchange to Argentina and also served as Chairman of the Arkansas Professors of Educational Administration Executive Council.

Roebuck was raised on a cotton farm in the Mississippi Delta and after graduating from high school in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Roebuck attended Belhaven College and graduated from Texas Womans University. She received her M.S.E. in school counseling from Henderson State University and the educational specialist as well as doctorate degree in educational administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She has lived in Arkadelphia since 1972 and is a Presbyterian.

It has been an honor to represent the people of this part of the state, Roebuck said. By serving as your State Representative, I am giving back to the wonderful people who I have been privileged to know and work with over the past 36 years.

Roebuck is married to Dr. Tommy G. Roebuck, retired dentist and former state representative for District 20. They are the parents of five children and have five grandchildren. Roebuck can be contacted at johnnie-r@sbcglobal.net and 870-246-8500.