Mark Mcelroy (Arkansas Politician)

Mark Dewayne McElroy
Arkansas State Representative for District 11
In office January 2013 – January 2019
Preceded by	Efrem Elliott
Succeeded by	Don Edward Glover
Born	January 16, 1956
Political party	Democrat-turned-Independent
Spouse(s)	Information missing
Children	Two children
Residence	Tillar, Desha County, Arkansas
Alma mater	Delta High School University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg)
Occupation	Farmer Former county judge and justice of the peace
Religion	Church of Christ

Mark Dewayne McElroy (born January 16, 1956)^[1] is a farmer and politician from Desha County in southeastern Arkansas, who is a former state representative for District 11, which includes Ashley, Chicot, and Desha counties in the southeastern portion of his state. He has held his legislative seat from January 2013 to January 2019.^[2] He was elected as a Democrat but switched to Independent status when in 2018 he lost his bid for a fourth House term to the Democrat Don Edward Glover. He is also a former justice of the peace and Desha county judge.

Background[edit]

McElroy graduated from the since defunct Delta High School in Desha County^[2] and attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is the president of Desha County Fair Association and is a former Desha County "Family Man of the Year." He has two children. He is a member of the Church of Christ Christian denomination. In addition to his work as a farmer, he is an auctioneer^[2] and a member of the Chamber of Commerce^[3]

Political life[edit]

McElroy was first elected to the House in 2012 to succeed Efrem Elliott, an African-American, who ran instead unsuccessfully for the state Senate. McElroy faced no opposition in either the primary or the general election in both 2012 and 2014.^[4][5]

Representative McElroy held these committee assignments: (1) Joint Committee on Energy, (2) Education, (3) Legislative Joint Auditing, and (4) Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development. ^[2]

In February 2015, McElroy was one of twenty legislators who opposed House Bill 1228, authored by Republican Bob Ballinger of Carroll County in northwestern Arkansas,^[6] which sought to prohibit government from imposing a burden on the free exercise of religion.^[7] Representative Camille Bennett, his fellow Democrat and a former city attorney for Lonoke, called for a reworking of the legislation.^[8]

She claimed the Ballinger bill would establish a "type of religious litmus test" which could impact nearly any law under consideration by the legislature.^[6] The measure was subsequently passed by a large margin in the House and signed into law in revised form, SB 975, by Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson.^[9] McElroy voted for the budget for the Department of Human Services.^[3]

References[edit]