Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Protecting Elderly Is Arnold's Goal

Protecting Arkansas' senior citizens is a primary goal of Robert Arnold, candidate for State Representative in District 28.

For the past eight years, he has been working with the state's long term care board trying to ensure proper care for the elderly.

He said because of downsizing in the federal government, money is drying up.

As a member of the long term care board, he said, the future looks bleak. Arnold expects cuts in funding for the Department of Human Services and Medicaid.

He said someone needs to step up and help solve the problems that will then be placed on Arkansas' citizens.

According to Arnold, the federal government wants families to take care of their elderly members. However, he said, 55 percent of the people in the 28th district make less than $20,000 a year with the husband and wife working.

"We need someone responsible and with experience to make sure the people have no more tax burden than they already have," he said.

"I have 16 people working for me. I know the problems they have making a living on what I can afford to pay them. It's not easy."

Arnold, citing the experience he would bring to the office, said he was in the construction business for about 20 years in the area. He currently owns and operates Arnold Retirement Plaza.

In 1982, he was elected to the Hope City Board of Directors and served two terms as Hope's mayor.

As mayor, he said, he helped pass a sales tax which allowed improvements to be made in the city.

These improvements include doing away with the city's old garbage incinerator and installing a new landfill.

When he became a member of the board in '82, he said there were about 20 miles of unpaved streets in town at the time. However, many of these have been paved because of the sales tax monies.

Additionally, the city's sewer lines were 75-80 years old and had seepage and flooding problems. As a member of the council, Arnold helped get the sewer lines repaired.

While mayor, he said, the city upgraded its fire department, getting a new truck. The police department also grew from 20 to 28 officers during Arnold's time in office.

Under his leadership, the city worked with the Hempstead County Economic Development Commission, and more than 700 new jobs were brought to the area.

"We had a united board of directors," he said, "all focused on improving Hope.

"The basic reason I'm running (for state representative) is because of the changes in government and the way they will affect our state."

He said as mayor the city of Hope was always getting regulations passed down from the federal and state level. However, these regulations came unfunded.

If elected, Arnold said he will work to make sure if the state or federal government puts regulations on cities and counties, a funding mechanism will accompany them.

"For the past eight years I've devoted hundreds of hours helping write regulations," he said of his efforts on the long term care board. "I've studied abuse and how it's handled for the elderly, afflicted and handicapped. I know how much and what kind of care they need.

"I feel for the elderly people. I've always felt a country is only as good as it takes care of its children and elderly."

Other than going to church at the Hope Church of Christ, where he is a member, and working in his garden, Arnold devotes his time to the senior citizens at Arnold Plaza and making sure they get the proper care.

"I have no intention of retiring," he said. "I enjoy working and accomplishing things. I'm a proven, reliable worker and I'd like to go to Little Rock and work for the people.

"I'm concerned about what's happening in America today. People are working longer and harder and taking home less. Something is wrong when two people working can't make a living."