Sonia Barker (R-Smackover) is running for reelection in 2020 for the seat she currently holds in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
She was first elected in 2016 to the District 7 seat, which she’s held for two terms. In 2016, she won a four-way race against two Democrats and one Independent candidate and she ran uncontested in 2018. Bishop George Calloway Jr. announced his candidacy for the sear in late May as a Democrat.
Barker said her platform for this coming election is similar to that of her previous campaigns: education, pro-life, pro-second amendment.
“Not just education, but what’s best for teachers and what’s best for students,” she said. “Any time you can shrink government, make it more efficient, that kind of thing. I don’t put out blanket statements of ‘I’ll never vote for taxes’ or ‘I’ll never do …’ because there’s so many nuances that sometimes the greater good outweighs certain things.”
Barker is from Smackover, where she’s a high school teacher. During her time as a State Representative, she’s been on the Committee on Education, the Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, and the Committee on Legislative and Military Affairs. She’s also served on the Joint Performance Review and Public Transportation Committees. During the last legislative session, she was the vice chair for the Committee on Aging, Children and Youth.
“I also believe I’ve voted and supported what I’ve said I was going to support,” Barker said.
In his announcement, Calloway also emphasized education as a primary point in his campaign along with infrastructure.
When it comes to the race, Barker said she thinks the race will be above board.
“I expect nothing less out of him than I plan to do,” she said. “We’re both running for a position. We’re not running against each other in a personal sense. I think it’ll be as it’s supposed to be. That’s how it’s designed to be.”
Michael Shine may be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook @MichaelAZShine for updates on Union County school news.