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SENATOR HENDREN'S STATEMENT ON RE-ELECTION 2022
’I’m proud to come from a family that believes in service. My father served in both the Arkansas Senate and House of Representatives, as does my sister. One of my uncles was a U.S. Senator, and another of my uncles is the Arkansas governor and chief architect of today’s state Republican Party. Both my grandfather and brother served in the U.S. Navy, and I have a son currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. Serving our state and our country is in our DNA.
I joined the Air Force in 1984 when I was 21 years old. Ten years later, I was one of just a handful of Republicans elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives. I’ve spent 24 years in the military, 15 years on a school board, and 16 years in the legislature. I’ve been the leader of the state Senate, but I’ve also spent much of my political service in a minority party having to fight for my values.
I find myself doing that again. You probably know I made some changes earlier this year. I became an Independent. I started a nonprofit, Common Ground Arkansas, to help support common sense leadership in our state - leadership that puts partisanship aside and works on solving problems.
I’m proud of all these changes.
But that’s left me with less time to spend focused solely on the people of my Senate District here in Benton and Washington Counties. That’s why I’ve decided not to seek re-election in 2022. I am honored to have had the trust of this district for 16 years, and I’m proud of the accomplishments that we’ve made together.
I’m looking forward to spending more time working on my growing business and enjoying my grandkids. Of course, that drive to serve isn’t gone. I believe Common Ground has real solutions for Arkansas, and I’m dedicated to helping us build a more unified future together.
As I close this chapter, I want to thank the people of Benton and Washington Counties for allowing me to serve them over the past two decades. I want to thank my wife, Tammy, and my four children for the sacrifices they’ve had to make. And finally, I want to thank my dad and my uncles for setting an example of service that still inspires me. I believe in Arkansas. And I’m looking forward to our next chapter. I’m not done yet.”
Jobs
Senator Hendren understands the value a job can bring to every Arkansan. Jim has fought for free-market policies which allowed our job market to thrive. Whether reducing unnecessary government red-tape, eliminating and reducing licensing barriers, or
Lower Taxes
Senator Hendren has been a leading advocate for lowering taxes on hardworking Arkansans. Prior to his election, the Legislature raised taxes nearly every single session. Jim worked to change that trend.
WORLD CLASS SCHOOLS
It is crucial that we prepare the next generation for the workforce so our children and grandchildren can thrive in a global economy.
Senator Hendren has pushed for pay raises for our teachers and led the effort
Veterans
Jim Hendren, a veteran of the United States Air Force, values our veterans and active duty members of the military and will put their needs first, just as they put their country first.
Jim championed legislation which allows
Health Care
Jim knows we have to make health care more affordable and accessible to every Arkansan, which begins with the way medicine is delivered.
In 2015, Jim supported a series reforms resulting in $835 million in savings over the
smaller GOVERNMENT
Government can't do everything, but it is essential that government gets the fundamentals RIGHT - our safety net, infrastructure, security, education, property rights and protecting our freedoms.
Jim worked to keep government
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KEEPING ARKANSAS PROSPEROUS AND FREE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Jim and Tammy have four children, Molly with her husband Andrew Snoddy, Daniel with his wife Bonnie, David with his wife Kali and Nick with his wife Emily. They have 9 grandchildren.
Jim and Tammy Hendren celebrated their 34th anniversary in 2019.
Hendren received bi-partisan support from his colleagues in his election as Senate President in 2019.
Jim and Tammy have four children, Molly with her husband Andrew Snoddy, Daniel with his wife Bonnie, David with his wife Kali and Nick with his wife Emily. They have 9 grandchildren.
In 1984, Hendren joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served 8 years of active duty, completing his service at Elemendorf AFB in Alaska.
Hendren shown here, serving on PACOM command ship off the coast of South Korea.
Hendren shown during his training to call in air strikes from the ground to support Army and Special Forces.
In 1984, Hendren joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served 8 years of active duty, completing his service at Elemendorf AFB in Alaska.
Jim Hendren, a fifth-generation Arkansan, graduated from Gravette High School and went onto receive a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas. With his engineering degree in hand, Jim and his father, Kim Hendren, launched Hendren Plastics in 1984.
Jim credits his parents for instilling the values of hard work, sacrifice, and sense of duty to serve our country. It was that sense of duty that led Jim to join the U.S. Air Force, where he served 8 years of active duty, completing his service at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska. After 9-11, he felt compelled to find a way to serve his country again. He found the opportunity to serve again when he joined the Missouri Air National Guard in 2003. There he served as the Offensive Duty Officer for the 157 Air Operations Group. He later joined the Arkansas Air National Guard, from which he retired at the rank of Colonel in the fall of 2019.
During his time in the military, he met the love of his life, Tammy Hendren, to whom he has been married to for 34 years. Jim and Tammy have four children, Daniel-married to Bonnie , David-married to Kalli, Nick-married to Emily, and Molly-married to Andrew. They have 9 grandchildren.
Jim first ran for office in 1995, serving as State Representative for 3 terms, and then again in 2012, for State Senator from Arkansas' Second District, the office he holds today. In 2019, he was elected by his colleagues to be Senate President. Since being elected, Jim has fought to deliver results for hardworking Arkansas Taxpayers. He has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce government spending, eliminate red tape, and cut taxes by nearly $500,000,000. He also lead the effort to rescue the Arkansas Teacher's Pension plan from bankruptcy and pushed for work requirements for able-bodied working adults.
Today, more than ever, he is committed to protecting our Constitutional Rights and defending our freedoms, so the next generation of Arkansans can have the opportunity to live their American Dream.
LIFE LONG ARKANSAN
HUSBAND AND FATHER
VETERAN
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
