Sheilla Lampkin of Monticello is announcing her candidacy for the office of State Representative, District 9, in the May 2014 Democratic Primary Election. Lampkin will be serving her third term as state representative and her second term as representative for District 9. District 9 includes approximately two-thirds of both Drew County and Ashley County, including Monticello, Hamburg, the heart of Crossett and much of the area around the three cities. She has all of the area east of Hwy 425 in Drew County.
A native of Desha County, Arkansas, Lampkin taught public schools 30 ½ years – 19 in Special Education. Since leaving the teaching profession, she has been involved and volunteered in a variety of civic and community activities; including Chamber of Commerce activities, Drew Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Lions Club, EHC programs and several local and state historic preservation organizations and projects. She has received several preservation awards and two Arkansas History Association awards for historical “feature” articles. She also served as chairperson of the Arkansas History Commission for two years. In 2008 she was named Drew County-Monticello “Woman of the Year” for her volunteer work.
Lampkin also attended a great many local, regional and state meetings relating to economic development ideas and opportunities and has forged relationships with many leaders and officials in these endeavors. She is deeply concerned about economic development in southeast Arkansas and this concern led her to run for the legislature in 2010 and defeat four opponents, allowing her to serve in the 88th General Assembly. Lampkin was victorious in 2012 and also served in the 89th General Assembly.
Lampkin has served on the House Advanced Communications and Informational Technology Committee, the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, the Public Health Labor and Environmental Subcommittee, the City, County and Local Affairs Committee, the Local Government Personnel Subcommittee, the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, the Legislative Auditing Counties and Municipalities Committee, the Task Force on Substance Abuse Treatment Services, the Education Committee, the Agri, Forestry and Economic Development Committee. She also serves as chair of the Early Education Committee, as an alternate on the Veterans Home ALC Subcommittee and as Liaison to the Senate. Lampkin also attends most other legislative committees to keep abreast of house committee developments and contemplations.
Rep. Lampkin also attends and represents our state on the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).
Acquaintances will attest that Mrs. Lampkin is a diligent “worker” who believes in southeast Arkansas and wants to see more sustainable growth opportunities in the area for all. She says, “Sustainable economic growth and development means projects that create jobs and add citizens to our population who buy our houses, support our schools, purchase our cars, boats and other goods, pay our taxes, use our banks – in short, support and revitalize our communities 24/7 365 days a year. Visitors are wonderful and welcome, but we need opportunities for “permanent” growth.
Our greatest opportunities for growth will come in developing old and new business opportunities. Southeast Arkansas is my home; I want to be a part of that growth process.
I also believe in supporting all of our other local “businesses”, including UAM and its Crossett and McGehee campuses, as well as our public schools.
I believe in strong schools. I believe that “No Child Left Behind”, “active participation by all parents in their child’s education”, and the Easter bunny might be great ideas, but are not a reality in our world. Our schools still can, and do, accept and meet the burden of teaching to every child – if they are willing to learn.
In southeast Arkansas we also need to create and support more opportunities for more of our children to be able to come/stay home and use those good educations we have provided them. Too often our “brightest and best” can’t come back home and make a good living because of a lack of new opportunities. This is a great concern to me.
You will be hearing and seeing much from me in the next few months. I hope to get to personally visit with each of you. I want you to know that I am your fulltime representative and I will devote my time to work hard for you every day. I will listen to you and represent all of you. I look forward to representing District 9 again in the 90th General Assembly.
I will appreciate your support and vote in the 2014 Democratic primary. Meanwhile please call or email me if you’d like to visit or if I might help you. I can be reached at 870-723-6449, sheilla.lampkin@arkansashouse.org or dslampkin@hughes.net.”
Mrs. Lampkin has been married 46+ years to former Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin. They belong to Second Baptist Church in Monticello where he serves as deacon and she is an Adult Class Sunday School teacher.
