The Mayberrys have been in the public eye and running for office--and serving the public--since memory runneth not to the contrary. And they're still a young couple. How do they pull it off?
Let's see if we have it straight: Andy Mayberry was elected to the state House a couple times. Then he eyed a different office so--why not?--Julie Mayberry jumped in to represent House District 27. But now she wants to concentrate more on the couple's four daughters--who wouldn't?--so Andy Mayberry is getting back into the political business.
Which should not be confused with the family business. The family business is . . . where to start? With the advertising or the monthly paper out in East End or maybe the wonderful and inspirational I Can! of Arkansas nonprofit group? Read up on how Julie Mayberry thought of that once upon a beautiful time when her daughter asked to take a dance class.
Andy Mayberry is our choice in this particular race. The man (and his wife) have been among the leaders of the pro-life movement in Arkansas for years, and Andy Mayberry has said he supports yanking funding from Planned Parenthood--before it can do more harm. Which is a good position to have when a body is elected as president of Arkansas Right to Life: "I believe in doing everything we can to protect the most innocent, weak and defenseless among us."
He's against the medical marijuana proposals you'll see on the Nov. 8 ballot--which means he's taking the reasonable position of the governor, the state's surgeon general, doctors at UAMS, pharmacists, and on and on.
Parents will remember when the Ledge, with Andy Mayberry's help, pushed through the sales tax holiday before school begins each fall. He's one of the sane ones when it comes to Medicaid in this state (we've crossed that Rubicon, unfortunately) and knows a few things about economic development, having worked at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
He's been a loyal soldier for the Republican Party for years and has a clear record of conservative votes. Let's send one of the Mayberrys back to the Ledge again. This time, let's send Andy to deal with the governor and the lobbyists and the lawamakers and the other politicians. (Julie has much more important people on her agenda.)
Editorial on 10/27/2016