State Rep. Les Warren, R-District 25, of Hot Springs, was the first legislator to be awarded the 2019 Statesman Award by the Family Council Action Committee for making an "A" on its 2019 legislative report card, FCAC officials said Wednesday.
FCAC President Jerry Cox presented the award to Warren Monday at the state Capitol.
"We were very pleased with how Rep. Warren voted," Cox said Wednesday. "We were active on 25 bills during the legislative session. Each lawmaker was given four points for each bill they agreed with. He made a 98 percent. ... He agreed with us on 24 out of 25, which is a very good score."
"I'm very honored to get (this award) and I feel like that's in keeping with what the people in my district want me to do," Warren said Wednesday. "When they told me I was the first one to receive it, I was really surprised. I didn't realize I was ahead of the group, but I was at the Capitol and connected with them, it's a beautiful award and I'm very honored."
Warren is currently serving his second term as a state representative and is the president of Hot Springs Title Company, the co-chair of the Greater Hot Springs Education Council and has been a member of The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, according to a news release from FCAC. During the 92nd General Assembly, Warren served as chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Retirement and Social Security Programs.
"My goal is to continue to serve the people of District 25 the best I can," Warren said.
Cox said two years ago a much smaller number of legislators, compared to this year, received the award -- 16 in total -- but this year there will be 90 legislators receiving the award.
"That's a good thing, I wish all 135 (legislators) would vote in such a way to receive it," Cox said.
He added there are other legislators from Garland County who will be receiving the award this year.
FCAC is a conservative organization based in Little Rock.
"We do our best to serve and protect and promote traditional family values," Cox said. "We do our best to take biblical values into the halls of the state Capitol and work for policies that reflect a biblical worldview."
For the full FCAC report card, visit http://www.arkansasreport.com.
Local on 08/22/2019