Sen. Jim Hendren, founder of Common Ground Arkansas, not seeking re-election

KUAR | By Steve Brawner / Talk Business & Politics

Arkansas state Sen. Jim Hendren, I-Gravette, is not running for re-election in 2022, he announced Monday.

On his website, hendrenforarkansas.com, he said his duties with the government reform organization he founded, Common Ground Arkansas, have left him with less time to focus on his Senate district.

Asked about his decision in a phone interview, Hendren said, “I’ve just got too much on my plate to do a good job of serving the people of the Senate district. Common Ground is taking more and more of my time, my business is at record levels, and we’re in the middle of a $3 million expansion, and my grandkids that I want to spend some time with. So all those things compiled together led me to a place where I just didn’t feel like I could do an adequate job of continuing to serve in the state Senate and do all those other things that I think are more important to me at this point.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2021-11-22/sen-jim-hendren-founder-of-common-ground-arkansas-not-seeking-re-election

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

State Sen. Jim Hendren, seen here in January 2019, announced Monday he will not run for reelection and has ruled out a bid for governor of Arkansas.

Common Ground Arkansas Names Board Members

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Common Ground Arkansas, the bipartisan organization founded by Sen. Jim Hendren, I-Gravette, when he left the GOP, announced its board members Thursday (June 3).

Organized now as a 501(c)(4), the group plans to work in three strategic areas:

• Finding and supporting problem solvers loyal to the people in their districts rather than to special interest groups;

• Supporting legislation that addresses the real problems faced by Arkansans;

• Ensuring strong voter power and voter choice

The board members announced are:

• LeAnne Burch, Monticello; Retired Brigadier General, U.S. Army

• Davy Carter, Jonesboro; Banker and Attorney

• Veronica Gromada, Bentonville; Attorney, Walmart

• Sen. Jim Hendren, Sulphur Springs; President, Hendren Plastics

• Mark Isbell, North Little Rock; Partner, Isbell Farms

• Mayor George McGill, Fort Smith; Mayor, Fort Smith

• Andy McNeill, Russellville; CEO, Denali Water Solutions

• Archie Schaffer III, Fayetteville; Consultant and Retired EVP, Tyson Foods

• Sam Sicard, Fort Smith; President and CEO, First National Bank of Fort Smith

• Nate Steel, Little Rock; Attorney, Steel, Wright, Gray, PLLC

Sen. Hendren, Four Ex-Legislators Sign on to New ‘Call for American Renewal’

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Sen. Jim Hendren, I-Gravette, and four former Arkansas state legislators are founding signatories of “A Call for American Renewal,” a movement that says it is “pushing for the Republican Party to rededicate itself to founding ideals—or else hasten the creation of an alternative.”

Hendren was joined by former Speaker of the House Davy Carter and former Rep. David Meeks, both Republicans, former Rep. Nate Bell, who served as a Republican from Mena before becoming an independent in his final term, and former Sen. Bruce Maloch, a conservative Democrat from Magnolia who was defeated in his bid for re-election last November.

The group’s website says that “forces of conspiracy, division, and despotism” have arisen, and it calls for a “rebirth of the American cause.” It seeks political reforms and ethical government. It calls for American leadership in promoting freedom by example and with “the judicious application of power.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/05/sen-hendren-four-ex-legislators-sign-on-to-new-call-for-american-renewal/