Jeffrey Reed "Jeff" Wardlaw
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 94th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Preceded byGregg Reep
Personal details
Born (1980-08-25) August 25, 1980
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, US
Political party
SpouseLaura Wardlaw
Children6
Residence(s)Hermitage, Bradley County, Arkansas
Alma materUniversity of Arkansas at Monticello
OccupationFarmer
Websitewww.jeffwardlaw.com

Jeffrey Reed "Jeff" Wardlaw (born August 25, 1980)[1] is a farmer from Hermitage in Bradley County in south Arkansas who is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 8, which he has represented since 2011. His district includes a portion of Bradley County, Drew County, Desha County counties.[2]

Background

Wardlaw graduated from Hermitage High School in Hermitage in Bradley County and then the University of Arkansas at Monticello, at which he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.[3] He enjoys hunting and fishing and is a member of the Rotary Club.[4]

Career

Wardlaw owns and operates Wardlaw Brothers Farms, Inc., in Hermitage. He is a former vice chairman of the bipartisan Freshman Caucus, and received the "Legislator of the Year" award from the Arkansas Forestry Association. He is a member of the Public Health Committee and the Insurance and Commerce Committee, of which he is chairman of the Insurance Subcommittee. Wardlaw is a member of the Bradley County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and Bradley County Industrial Development Commission.[3] Wardlaw had been mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for Arkansas's 4th congressional district seat vacated in 2015 by since freshman U.S. Senator Tom Cotton. However, Wardlaw instead ran without opposition for a fourth term in the state House in 2016,[5] but he switched parties a week after the general election.[6] Wardlaw's fellow representative Mike Holcomb of Jefferson County, who, like Wardlaw, represents Cleveland County, had switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party three months earlier, in August 2016. Like Wardlaw, he too cited differences with the party on social issues as a main factor in his decision.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 91st Arkansas General Assembly Legislative Directory
  2. ↑ "Rep. Jett Switches to GOP; Democrats Lose Lone Committee Majority". December 9, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Wooten, Patty (January 9, 2012). "State Rep. Jeff Wardlaw announces reelection bid". Seark Today. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Jeff Wardlaw, D-8". Arkansas House of Representatives. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  5. ↑ DeMillo, Andrew (July 31, 2013). "Ark.'s Cotton to Run for US Senate". Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 3, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Dist. 8 State Rep. Wardlaw Switches Party Affiliation". Cleveland County (Arkansas) Herald. November 16, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
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