Real estate exec announces bid for state House seat

A Little Rock real estate executive on Wednesday announced his candidacy for the state House of Representatives seat being vacated by Rep. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock.

Andrew Collins, 34, of Little Rock will seek the House District 35 seat as a Democrat. He said he hopes to restore decency into politics.

"Politicians, pundits, and social media can make America seem hopelessly divided and unable to find common ground," Collins said in a news release. "But we Arkansans have a lot in common. We value education, opportunity, and safe neighborhoods. We stand up for decency in our private lives, and long for it in the public sphere."

Tucker announced earlier this week intentions to seek the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock.

Collins, chief operating officer at Cypress Properties in Little Rock, is the first candidate to announce a campaign for Tucker's seat.

Stacy Hurst, director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, said in an email Wednesday that she is considering running for the seat. Hurst ran unsuccessfully as a Republican against Tucker in 2014.

"I've been encouraged by several people to consider another run for HD35," Hurst said. "At this point, I've pledged to consider it and will make a decision very soon."

Jennifer Martinez Belt, chief marketing officer at Arkansas Heart Hospital, said earlier this week that she was considering running for the seat as a Democrat. She didn't return a phone message requesting comment Wednesday afternoon.

Collins, a graduate of Duke University, worked through AmeriCorps VISTA at the New York City Coalition Against Hunger before attending Columbia Law School, according to a news release.

Collins, who grew up in Little Rock, spent several years in private practice, focusing on helping companies "understand and navigate the complexities of the health care system," the release said.

In a phone interview Wednesday, Collins said he thought Arkansas' Medicaid expansion program, known as Arkansas Works, was "innovative" and "fiscally responsible," adding he hopes the state Legislature approves spending authority for the program during the upcoming fiscal session, which begins Monday.

Collins returned to Arkansas about seven years ago to work at Cypress, and he has served on the board of Our House, a nonprofit benefiting homeless and near-homeless families and individuals.

Abortion, Collins said, should be "safe, legal and rare," and he wouldn't support any additional legal restrictions.

Collins is married with two young children.

Candidates may begin filing for party primaries Feb. 22. The primary is May 22 and the general election is Nov. 6.

State representatives serve two-year terms with a $40,188-a-year salary in addition to mileage and per diem for legislative sessions and meetings.

Metro on 02/08/2018

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