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]

1. ↑ Mark McElroy. Mylife.com. Retrieved on December 27, 2020.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Mark D. McElroy. arkansashouse.org. Retrieved on April 15, 2015; information no longer on-line.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mark D. McElroy's Voting Records. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on December 27, 2020.
4. ↑ District 11 (2012). Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved on December 27, 2020.
5. ↑ District 11 (2014). Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved on December 27, 2020.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Opponents of Religious Freedom Bill Point Out Law Differences, Possible Unintended Consequences," Fox Channel 16 (Little Rock, Arkansas), April 1, 2015.
7. ↑ HB 1228. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on December 27, 2020.
8. ↑ Indiana, Arkansas try to stem religious objections uproar. Atlantic Broadband (April 3, 2015). Retrieved on April 14, 2015; information no longer accessible on-line.
9. ↑ "Gov. Hutchinson signs revised religious freedom bill; HB 1228 recalled," KTHV-TV (Little Rock), April 2, 2015.