Email Or Drop A Note To Solons During The Session

Never disregard the value of a handwritten note.

Or a very civil telephone call.

Those were two of the most often requested and suggested forms of communication valued by Arkansas lawmakers, politicians tell me.

And with the start of the 90-day Legislative Session down in Little Rock, I am focused on how you as citizens can contact your state legislators.

So while most of this column may look like just a list of names, telephone numbers and email addresses, believe you me, you will wish you had clipped this column for future reference and a handy guide in just a few short weeks.

I have written before about the protocol for emails. Keep them short. Make them in your own words (never just forward a forwarded email to your legislative leaders).

Be genuine.

Also, there are protocols to calling both the Arkansas State House of Representatives and the State Senate during the session.

During the session to contact the House of Representatives call 1-501-682-6211.

For the State Senate call 1-501-682-2902 during the session.

Both these numbers only take messages for legislators to call you back. You may be asked if you have a bill number you want to talk to the lawmakers about. Please give your name and a call back number and remain civil, these are just telephone answering personnel, not the actual lawmakers.

While the rest of the column is indeed a list, just know this, soon you will wish you had these names, phone numbers and emails.

• State Senators who represent portions of Washington County and their contact information is as follows:

• State Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, Dist. 1, 479-531-4176, email [email protected]

• Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Gravette, Dist. 2, 479-787-6222, email, [email protected]

• Sen. Uvalde Lindsey, D-Fayetteville, Dist. 4, 479-444-6752, email [email protected]

• Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, Dist. 5, 870-438-4565, email [email protected]

• Sen. Lance Eads, R-Springdale, Dist. 7, 479-435-5139, email [email protected]

• State House of Representative members and their contact information is as follows:

• State Rep. Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren, Dist. 80, 479-414-1818, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Bruce Coleman, R-Mountainburg, Dist. 81, 479-806-6825, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, Dist. 84, 479-283-9303, email [email protected]

• State Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville, Dist. 85, there is no phone number listed on the House Legislative page, email, [email protected]

• State Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, Dist. 86, 479-966-9201, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Robin Lundstrom, R-Springdale, Dist. 87, 479-957-1959 , email [email protected]

• State Rep. Clint Penzo, R-Springdale, Dist. 88, 479-466-6681, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Jeff Williams, R-Springdale, Dist. 89, 479-445-8266, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, Dist. 97, 870-350-5175, [email protected]

This is a quick and easy way to stay connected to your elected officials in the days ahead.

MAYLON RICE, AN AWARD-WINNING COLUMNIST, HAS WRITTEN BOTH NEWS AND COLUMNS FOR SEVERAL NWA PUBLICATIONS AND HAS BEEN WRITING FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.