Two announce plans to seek Gates' seat

Arkansas state Capitol building. - File photo by John Sykes Jr. of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arkansas state Capitol building. - File photo by John Sykes Jr. of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

District 12 Justice of the Peace Richard McGrew and Lakeside High School Athletic Director Don Pierce, both Republicans, said Monday they plan to seek the now-vacant District 22 seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives.

Rep. Mickey Gates was expelled from the seat on Friday by an overwhelming, historic vote of the House for failure to pay state income taxes. A special election date had yet to be announced by the governor's office as of Monday afternoon, Garland County Clerk Sarah Smith said.

McGrew, 62, has served on the Garland County Quorum Court since the beginning of the year and served on the Hot Springs Planning Commission from 2009 to 2017.

He said that to his knowledge, if elected, he would have to resign his seat on the quorum court and would serve in the House to the end of 2020. He said he would then be eligible to run in the primary election.

"I'm a businessman in the community," McGrew said. "I have served in the public over the last several years. I served eight years on the Planning Commission, I'm now a member of the quorum court. I have a heart to serve the community. I have been blessed beyond what I deserve and I've always felt that giving back was a big part of being successful."

He said he recently sold McGrew Electric, a company he started in 1988, which will give him more time to serve.

"When I look at what I want to do with the rest of my life, serving the community that so blessed me is what I want to do."

Along with his founding of McGrew Electric, which is now known as McGrew Service Co., he is also a property owner of multiple apartment complexes and commercial space.

McGrew said he brings a "tremendous amount" of experience to the table.

"Building a business and running that electric business for 30 years to a very high level where we were doing major projects that exceeded a million dollars electrical, and then moving into the property, when I was 44 years old and started buying property," he said. "(I) bought large apartment complexes ... managing that and managing many people and managing payroll, along with the experience that I have on the Planning (Commission) and the quorum court."

McGrew and his wife, Debbie, both Hot Springs natives, have three children and three grandchildren and are members of Hot Springs Baptist Church.

In a published biography, McGrew said he would be "humbled and consider it a great honor and privilege to represent the citizens of District 22, in the position of Arkansas State Representative."

After losing to Gates in the 2018 preferential primary election by 26 percentage points, Pierce announced he planned to enter the 2020 GOP primary in House District 22, before Gates' expulsion on Friday. Pierce, 58, said he now plans to run in the special election.

"I want to make a difference," he said. "I want to have discussion about what I think's right and what I think's wrong and have discussion instead of (being) mad at each other ... You have your beliefs and I have mine, but we talk about it instead of yell at each other. I want to be a person that will listen to both sides, but then again I'm going to have to make a decision on what I think's best for the state and best for Garland County."

Pierce added his decision to run is "nothing against Mr. Gates."

After 36 years working in the public school system, Pierce said if he were to win he would "retire" and be a full-time state representative.

"If I were still doing this job I wouldn't be as available, and I want to be available for our people in Garland County," he said. " ... I feel like after 36 years in education I've done a service for the community and now I'm ready to take it and try to make a difference in the state of Arkansas and Garland County."

Other community involvement includes Pierce's governor-appointed Arkansas Physical Therapy board membership since summer 2018, his Jessieville School Board membership, his 15 years as a firefighter with the Hot Springs Village Fire Department and his Jessieville Baptist Church membership.

Pierce and his wife, Beth, both longtime Hot Springs Village residents, have two children and two grandchildren.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to make a difference in the state and mainly make a difference in Garland County," Pierce said.

Local on 10/15/2019

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