LITTLE ROCK – On Monday afternoon, Jay Barth officially became a candidate for State Senate District 34, filing the necessary paperwork at the State Capitol in Little Rock.

Throughout the campaign, Jay has focused on the importance of bringing people together for the sake of Arkansas’s children and families.

“The citizens of District 34 are certainly diverse, but we share a commitment to create educational opportunities for all Arkansans, from cradle through career, and to create healthy and safe neighborhoods in which to raise families,” he said. “Arkansas is on the cusp of amazing progress as a state, and I want to be part of making the public policies that will help us get there.”

Jay is a professor of political science at Hendrix College in Conway and is known for his expertise on Arkansas state government and public policy.  For more information about Jay’s plans, visit the Issues page.

The Democratic primary election will take place May 18, with early voting beginning May 3.

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“The Arkansas Regional Council delegates voted to support Jay for the senate race based on his knowledge of the construction industry and his ability to be an advocate for the positions we have concerning construction labor,” said Dennis Donahou, the Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the ARCC.

The ARCC represents the carpenters and joiners who live and work in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

“Every day, the men and women of the Arkansas Regional Council of Carpenters build the structures that shelter our families and house businesses throughout Arkansas,” Barth said. “I’m proud to have their endorsement in this campaign and I look forward to doing all I can to be certain that the laws providing fair wages and safe working conditions for these vitally important workers are fully enforced in our state.”

Barth is a professor of political science at Hendrix College in Conway and is known for his expertise on Arkansas state government and public policy.

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You’re Invited to a Community Gathering featuring  Rodney Block . FREE to the Public, donations to benefit the Sherman Park After-School Program.

Local jazz great, Rodney Block, has agreed to play at a community celebration for my State Senate campaign on Thursday, February 25th, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at The Speakeasy (412 Louisiana Street in downtown Little Rock). The show is FREE, but we’ll be accepting donations for an important community organization, the Sherman Park After School Program, (R.O.C.A.N. = Reaching Our Children and Neighborhoods). Leifel Jackson, the program’s Executive Director, will be on hand. We’re focusing on Leifel’s organization because it does such important work in the North Little Rock community with so few resources. Having after-school programs for kids is a very important issue to me. I believe it is one of the most important components in closing the academic achievement gap. After-school programs mean better opportunities for the children of District 34 to learn music, stay active, play sports, and receive tutoring in a place where we know they will be safe and nurtured.
Please join me in supporting this program and enjoying a great evening of music and community.

Together, a better Arkansas,
Jay Barth

Click here for more details

The University of Arkansas’s Office for Education Policy has issued its 2009 Report Card on Arkansas Public Schools.    The report card shows the continued improvement of Arkansas’s public schools in the aftermath of the reforms instituted earlier in this decade following the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Lake View rulings.    Overall student achievement continues to progress across the state as does the percentage of Arkansas’s students taking Advanced Placement courses.   However, the report shows that the academic achievement gap continues to grow in Arkansas.  Specifically, in math at both the 4^th and 8^th grade levels, the academic performance gap between African-American and white students and students eligible for free- and reduced-lunch programs and those who are not poor continues to grow in Arkansas.

Jay Barth, candidate for the State Senate in District 34 and an expert on the educational achievement gap in Arkansas, commented on the report card, “We must recognize the historic advances in education we have made as a state over the past eight years, but we must also recognize that we must focus on the achievement gap in the coming years.

If we are to have sustained economic progress in this state, all students—black, Latino, and white and rich and poor—must have access to true educational opportunities.

This data shows that this is still not the case.”

In his 2008 co-authored report on the achievement gap in Arkansas, Barth argued that to help close the gaps in educational outcomes between white and African-American, white and Latino, and more and less wealthy students in Arkansas we need to focus our energies in several areas:

• expanding the percentage of Arkansas students who take advantage of the first rate Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program in the pre-K years;
• ensuring small class sizes in grades K-3 in schools with large percentages of low-income, African-American, and Latino students;
• developing programs that will promote ongoing parental engagement in schools;
• promoting accessibility to in-school health clinics in the state so that children can come to school healthy and ready to learn;
• expanding afterschool and summer learning opportunities for students.

Governor Beebe’s Task Force for Best Practices in After-School and Summer Programs, of which Jay was a member, put forward specific recommendations about what Arkansas should do in this important area of educational policy. In the legislature, Jay will work to enact those recommendations along with other programs, supported by good research, that will make excellent education available to all the state’s students and will promote the economic future of Arkansas.

I worked many hours as a volunteer on Vic’s campaign for Congress in 1996.   During that campaign, I met many of the people who have remained among my closest personal and political friends.    I am thankful that Vic brought us all together for what was a tough, hard fought, yet ultimately rewarding campaign.   That campaign proved that grassroots campaigning can be a powerful force even in a high-profile race.  My belief in this power of grassroots to bring change to Arkansas has been the bedrock on which I have built my campaign for the State Senate.

As state Senator from District 34, I will seek to serve with the dignity and good nature of my friend Vic Snyder.

What makes me sad today is to know we will lose Vic’s exemplary service as a public official.  Vic dealt with complex issues in a thoughtful manner and always explained clearly why he cast the votes he made.   Most importantly, he always presented himself in a calm manner, resisting the growing tendency to demonize those with whom he disagreed.    He is exactly the kind of public servant I want to be and I know the people of Arkansas’ 2^nd district will dearly miss his leadership.

The final months of Vic’s term in office will be crucial ones for the future of our country.   I am happy that he will be casting wise votes on behalf of the citizens of our congressional district on issues such as health care reform over the coming months.

The present District 34 covers much of the geography included in the district Vic served in the state Senate during the first half of the 1990s.

As state Senator from District 34, I will seek to serve with the dignity and good nature of my friend Vic Snyder.

LITTLE ROCK – The Jay Barth for Senate Campaign set a new fundraising mark for state legislative campaigns in Arkansas, reporting more than $162,000 in total contributions raised in 2009.   In addition, the year-end report revealed more than 1,100 individuals made contributions to the campaign.

“I’m honored and energized to know that more than eleven hundred people have expressed confidence in me by donating their hard-earned money,” said Barth.  “These are tough times for everyone, and it is humbling to have this level of support so early in the campaign.”

The report shows Barth raised $28,937.44 in cash and non-monetary donations during the fourth quarter, bringing his total contributions for 2009 to $162,696.37. The campaign has $109,143.09 cash on hand.

“For a state legislative race where the primary will likely be the contest that determines the winner, we believe it is the highest fundraising total in Arkansas history,” said campaign manager Gabe Gentry.  “It is a testament to Jay’s hard work and the belief so many people have in his vision for Arkansas.”

In addition to the strong financial support, Barth has also garnered the support of the Little Rock and North Little Rock Fire Fighters (IAFF Locals #34 and #35) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 878.

Barth is a candidate for Arkansas State Senate district 34 and a professor of political science at Hendrix College in Conway.

State Senate District 34 covers a wide swath of Pulaski County, but the bulk of the population falls in the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock.   “Jay always talks about bringing people together across District 34 and our campaign is spending tremendous energy reaching out to the communities on both sides of the river.  That is why Jay is so honored to receive the endorsement of both the North Little Rock and Little Rock Fire Fighters so early in this campaign,” said Gabe Gentry, manager of the Jay Barth for State Senate campaign.

Richard Morehead, President of the Little Rock Fire Fighters IAFF Local #34, representing 368 members, cited Jay’s legislative and policy expertise as one of the primary reasons for the endorsement.  “ Getting to know Jay, we have found he has a remarkable understanding of the worker safety issues, long-term financial concerns, and other legislative priorities for our association,” said Morehead.

“As our state senator, I know Jay will be a great advocate for our fire fighters, first responders and all the workers of Arkansas.”

Joining forces, the North Little Rock Fire Fighters, IAFF Local #35, also made public their endorsement of Barth.  Ray Vance, President of the 148 member association, said the overriding motivations behind their endorsement was Jay’s ability to work with various groups of people while still being able to stand up for the issues important to the North Little Rock community.  “North Little Rock has always had one of the best fire fighter and first responder corps in the state of Arkansas,” stated Vance.  “In these tough economic times, we need elected officials who are willing to take a principled stand for the funding priorities needed to ensure we always have first class fire protection and front line responder services.  I know Jay will be able to make the tough decisions and be a great steward for the needs of our community,” Vance concluded.

Barth has served as a leader and member of many organizations.  This month he was chosen for a leadership role on two boards.

On Tuesday, Dec. 15, he was elected secretary of the board of directors for the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County.  That same day, he was elected as chair of the board of directors for Just Communities of Arkansas (JCA).

The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County supports high-potential single parents with financial needs in Pulaski County to achieve their goal of a higher education.  Since 2000 more than 240 single parents have completed educational programs with the help of this organization that provides mentoring as well as financial assistance to students.

JCA works to build communities where every person is valued, every voice is heard, and everyone has a fair chance to succeed.  The organization holds many programs for youth, adults, and the community throughout the year including an annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner.  Barth has been active in JCA for five years.  Other JCA board members include Rev. Felton May, state Sen. Joyce Elliott, and Greg Flescher.

“I’m honored that my fellow board members have entrusted me with these positions,” said Barth.  “JCA and the Single Parent Scholarship Fund work every day to improve individual circumstances for Arkansans.  They are great organizations with outstanding staff members and volunteers.”

Barth’s commitment to community does not end with these organizations.  To learn more about Barth’s community involvement, go to http://jaybarth.org/bio.

For more information on JCA, go to http://www.arkansasjustcommunities.org.

For more information about the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County, go to http://www.pulaskisingleparents.org.

Jay speaking during the Better South conference at Davidson College.

This major regional conference was held Nov. 6-8 on the campus of Davidson College in Davidson, N.C.   The Center gathered political leaders, policy experts, private-sector decision makers, journalists and academics to develop a Southern agenda to inspire leadership for states to move forward.

“I’m honored to have been asked to be part of this important conference,” said Barth.  “We had lively, heartfelt, productive conversations about how to move the South forward.  Through exchanges like this, we can continue improving the lives of Arkansans as well as the lives of those across the South.”

In the coming weeks the Center expects to release a list of proposals generated at the conference.  This short document will outline major challenges on which Southern leaders should focus.  Each policy priority is to be accompanied by a measurable indicator.

… lively, heartfelt, productive conversations about how to move the South forward.  Through exchanges like this, we can continue improving the lives of Arkansans as well as the lives of those across the South.”

“In our increasingly partisan and media-saturated world of small soundbites for big problems, it’s often hard for elected and appointed officials and other leaders to make serious inquiries and give thoughtful consideration to big problems facing the South,” said Andy Brack, president of the Center for a Better South.  “Instead, they often have to put out the fires of immediate problems rather than finding solutions for decades-old challenges.”

The conference focused on 11 Southern states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.  For more information about the “Agenda for a Better South” conference, go to www.bettersouth.org/conference.  For more information about the Center for a Better South, go to www.bettersouth.org.

Barth is a professor of political science at Hendrix College in Conway and is known for his expertise on Arkansas state government and public policy.  To learn more about Barth, become a volunteer, or donate to the campaign, go to www.JayBarth.org.

Leonard admires Jay's commitment to racial harmony.

The Jay I know is a conscientious person who is deeply interested in our state and the community in which we live.  His commitment to racial harmony and the inclusiveness of people with disabilities is commendable.

His commitment to racial harmony and the inclusiveness of people with disabilities is commendable.

The Jay I know is a thinker, problem solver, leader, and, most of all, the change agent I think we need to better not just the neighborhood in which he and live, but the entire state.  I have witnessed this through his presentations on Arkansas politics and government, as well as talking to him on a personal level.

Finally, the Jay I know understands the real difficulties that so many Arkansans face on a daily basis.  I chose Jay to be my state Senator because I think he will bring about the changes that better the lives of the people of the State of Arkansas.