Andrea Lea
Auditor of Arkansas
In office
January 13, 2015 – January 10, 2023
GovernorAsa Hutchinson
Preceded byCharlie Daniels
Succeeded byDennis Milligan
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 71st district
In office
January 2013 – January 13, 2015
Preceded byTommy Wren
Succeeded byKenneth Henderson
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 68th district
In office
January 2009 – January 2013
Preceded byMichael Lamoureux
Succeeded byRobert Dale
Personal details
Born1957 (age 66–67)
Political partyRepublican
SpousePhillip Lea
Children3
EducationArkansas Tech University, Russellville (BA)

Andrea Christine Lea (born 1957) is an American politician who served as the Arkansas State Auditor and is a Republican former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Russellville, Arkansas. She was elected state auditor on November 4, 2014, to succeed the Democratic incumbent, Charlie Daniels, who did not seek reelection.[1][2][3]

Background

Early political life and state legislature

[4]

Lea was unopposed for a second House term in 2010.[5] In 2012, Lea was switched to House District 71 and again ran without opposition. The previous representative, Democrat Tommy Wren, was transferred to District 62.[6]

Lea was a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The purpose of this council is to promote sample legislation written by corporations. She was the organization's co-state chairperson along with Eddie Joe Williams, also succeeding Michael Lamoureux in that role.[7][8]

Legislation

State Auditor

The office of State Auditor is one of Arkansas' seven constitutional offices. The State Auditor is the general accountant for the state and is also in charge of the payroll for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The office is also in charge of the state's unclaimed property program.[9] The office has existed since Arkansas was made a United States territory in 1819. Its duties have changed very little since its inception. Lea is the third woman elected to the office of State Auditor. The first woman elected was Jimmie Lou Fisher. The second woman elected was Julia Hughes Jones. Lea is the first Republican woman elected as State Auditor in Arkansas.[10]

The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt

The State Auditor's office in Arkansas is in charge of an unclaimed property program. This program is referred to as The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt. The purpose of this program is to return lost money to their rightful owners. Cash assets and safety deposit box contents are turned over to the State Auditor's office after the institutions holding the property deem it abandoned. According to Lea, in Arkansas, there is $317,000,000 in the unclaimed property as of 2017. She stated that "Reuniting Arkansans with their money is something I take very seriously...We now estimate that 1 in 4 Arkansans has cash to claim in the Treasure Hunt. If you've searched in the past, it's time to search again!"[11]

Election as President of NAUPA

In January 2019, Lea was elected as the President of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). This organization is associated with the Association of State Auditors. Its purpose is to create awareness of the importance of unclaimed property as a necessary consumer protection program. Its members represent all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and all of the United States' territories. After Lea was elected as President of this organization, she stated, "I'm honored to be chosen by my colleagues to represent our organization and work to advance our common interest...I look forward to continuing to share our successes in Arkansas across the country and advocating for increased innovation and streamlining of services. It's a win for businesses, and a win for consumers."[12]

Electoral history

Arkansas State House of Representatives 68th District Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea 5,681 53.05
Democratic Thomas Akin 4,634 43.27
Green Mary Boley 394 3.68
Arkansas State House of Representatives 68th District Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea (inc.) n/a 100.00
Arkansas State House of Representatives 68th District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea (inc.) n/a 100.00
Arkansas Auditor Republican Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea 111,998 68.17
Republican Ken Yang 52,293 31.83
Arkansas Auditor Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea 471,211 57.17
Democratic Regina Stewart Hampton 308,285 37.40
Libertarian Brian Leach 44,702 5.42
Arkansas Auditor Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea 72.35 621,722
Libertarian David E. Dinwiddie 27.65 237,602

[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Max Brantley, Andrea Lea joins GOP race for state auditor, July 2, 2013". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Andrea Lea's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Andrea Lea, R-71". arkansashouse.org. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  4. ↑ "State Representative, District 68". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "District 68". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ "District 71". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  7. ↑ "State Chairs - American Legislative Exchange Council". www.alec.org. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Andrea Lea's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Arkansas State Auditor | Andrea Lea". auditor.ar.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Office of Auditor - Encyclopedia of Arkansas". www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Arkansas State Auditor | Andrea Lea". auditor.ar.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Arkansas State Auditor | Andrea Lea". auditor.ar.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
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