Local citizens wanting to contact their state House of Representative or state Senator may find the process quick and easy with a few tips from our veteran slate of state office holders.
While most have published cell phone numbers, there is often little precious time, until the session's end, each day to return phone calls.
If you feel you must call the legislators, it is best to use the House and Senate switchboards and leave a call-back message for the solons to call you back.
The House of Representative switchboard number is 1-501-682-6211.
The State Senate switchboard number is 1-501-682-2902.
Employees answering the switchboard will ask your name, who you are calling and your phone number. These hourly employees do not take long messages about bills or votes or answer questions about legislation.
The phone messages will be sent to the House and Senate chambers and placed on the desks of the elected officials.
The switchboard employees cannot guarantee when the elected officials will call you back. And they cannot go out onto the House or Senate galleries and bring the elected officials to the telephone.
Email, most of the areas elected officials say, is the best means of contact.
But even with emails, there are a few hints to help get your message across to our local legislators.
First and foremost is identifying yourself in the emails.
Many senders of emails forget they have a proxy name -- such as [email protected] as their email handle. While our local elected officials, no doubt, may know the real name of MeeMaw123 -- they may not at first blush recognize that email as the name of Mrs. Marsha Jones of Siloam Springs.
Also if there is a particular bill you want to make a comment on, or urge a representative or senator to vote FOR or AGAINST, please include the bill number in the subject line.
For example, in the subject line of the email, list NO on HB1101. Or FOR HB1101.
Then in the text of the email quickly tell the elected officials why you support or don't support that bill. If you have specific questions, ask them in the text of the email.
All of the elected officials ask that you not send long, copied e-mails from others as your reason for emailing. Most elected officials have already seen these long emails several times already.
Please include your local thoughts and reasons for emailing them about a particular House or Senate bill in the Arkansas legislature.
Remember, the members of the Arkansas House and Senate have little to do with the bills in Congress on the federal level. They also have little influence on what is being proposed from the White House.
If you want an email to be returned to you, please ask for that in your email.
Courtesy and civility always win out over sarcasm and criticism of your elected officials, even if you disagree.
Also, do not reply-all on a long string of emails to elected officials. Individual emails have more impact than an email blast to all 100 House members or the 35 senators, local officials say.
Also be patient, some elected officials are busy with phone calls, emails, visitors to the House or Senate chambers and may be hours before your emails are returned or answered.
The area state senators in the Herald-Leader's Northwest Arkansas area and their contact and committee assignments are below.
This is not all the senators or state representatives in Benton County, but those nearest the Herald-Leader's circulation area.
State Sen. Jim Hendren R-Gravette. Senate District 2, His phone number is 479-787-6222. His email address is: [email protected]. He is the owner of Hendren Plastics Inc. He is the chairman of the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Task Force; a member of the Legislative Council and the Joint Budget Committees. He is a member of the Senate Education Committee, the Transportation and Legislative Affairs Committee, Energy Committee and the City, County and Local Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the joint Advanced Communications and Information Technology Committee and the Senate Rules, Resolutions and Memorials Committee.
State Rep. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, House District 92, which is most of the northern portions of western Benton County. His telephone number is 479-787-6500. His e-mail is [email protected]. His committees are Vice Chair House Revenue and Taxation; House Energy; Joint House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development; House Agriculture; House Small Business and Economic Development subcommittee; Legislative Joint Auditing Committee; ex officio member of Revenue and Taxation -- House Sales, Use and Miscellaneous Taxes and Exemptions Subcommittee; ex officio member of Revenue and Taxation Home committee on Income Taxes -- Personal and Corporate Subcommittee. He is also an ex-officio member of the House Revenue and Tax Complaints and Remediation subcommittee.
State Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, District 87 (which includes Siloam Springs, Tontitown, Elm Springs and portions of Springdale.) Her phone number is 479-957-1959. Her email is [email protected]. Her committee assignments include: Chair of House Insurance and Commerce; House Utilities subcommittee; member of Energy Joint Committee; member of Joint Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee; House Public Health --House Health Service Subcommittee. Member of House Insurance and Commerce Committee. She is also a member of the House Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee.
-- Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 01/28/2015