HERMITAGE - Laura “Missy” Wardlaw, a Republican from the Bradley County community of the Johnsville, announced last Friday that she will seek the Arkansas State Senate District 1 seat being left vacant by Republican Ben Gilmore of Crossett.
Gilmore announced last Friday that he was stepping down to join the Arkansas Attorney General’s office.
“I am really excited about having the opportunity to represent our district at the Arkansas State Capitol in the Senate,” Wardlaw said in a statement posted on her campaign website. “As a lifelong resident of South Arkansas, I understand the needs of our communities.
“My three main focal points will be access to health care, educational opportunities and economic growth. I look forward to visiting our communities, sharing my ideas and getting your thoughts on how to keep South Arkansas viable,” she said.
Wardlaw’s career is focused on health care and currently she serves as Veteran Coordinator for Pinnacle In-Home Care, where she helps connect families with non-skilled care throughout the state. She has an associate of science degree from SAU Tech and an associate of science in physical therapy from South Arkansas Community College. She graduated from Camden Fairview High School.
An active member of her community, Wardlaw serves on the Board of Directors for the Warren YMCA, the Bradley County Museum Board, and was recently voted onto the Bradley Medical and Health Foundation Board.
Wardlaw, and her husband, District 94 State Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, live in Johnsville community and are the parents of six children. She is a member of the First Methodist Church in Warren.
Her husband, Jeff, has served in the state legislature since 2011, and can no longer run due to term limits.
This will be Missy Wardlaw’s second political campaign this year. In March, she narrowly lost to John Day of Monticello by an 87-vote margin (1,221 to 1,134) in the Republican primary to replace her husband as the District 94 representative.
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