AAC Hosts Annual Legislative Reception

The AAC hosted its annual Legislative Reception on Dec. 19, 2019. The event was well attended by members of the state Legislature, as well as county and district officials.

The reception gives AAC policy staff and county and district officials the opportunity to get to know legislators better, to thank them for their work during the previous session, and to discuss issues that may need to be considered in future sessions.

Top: AAC Executive Director Chris Villines welcomes all in attendance. Above: AAC RMF Counsel Colin Jorgensen and Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison, who also serves as AAC Board vice president and County Judges Association of Arkansas (CJAA) president, pause their conversation to take a photo. Left: Kim Bradley, executive administrative assistant for the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association; Scott Bradley, executive director of the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association; Sterling Penix, Criminal Detention Facilities Review Committees Coordinator; and state Rep. Keith Slape, a former sheriff, gather during the reception for a photo.

Top left: Clark County Judge Troy Tucker speaks with Sevier County Judge and CJAA Secretary/Treasurer Greg Ray. Top middle: Cleburne County Assessor Judy Land and her husband Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land visit with JR Hankins, chief of staff to Secretary Jami Cook of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Top right: Boone County Justice of the Peace David Thompson, who is an AAC Board member and president of the Association of Arkansas Quorum Courts, chats with Craighead County Treasurer Terry McNatt, who is an AAC Board member and president of the Arkansas County Treasurers’ Association.

Middle left: Crawford County District Judge Chuck Baker; Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown, president of the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association; and Sebastian County Justice of the Peace Danny Aldridge visit. Middle: Greene County Judge Rusty McMillon visits with state Rep. Andrew Collins. Middle right: State Rep. Rick Beck, whose District 65 encompasses Conway County chats with Conway County Judge and AAC Board Member Jimmy Hart.

Left top: Crawford County Circuit Clerk Sharon Blount-Baker and Monroe County Circuit Clerk Alice Smith speak as Monroe County Clerk Tina Wofford looks on. Left bottom: State Sen. Mark Johnson and state Rep. Mary Bentley, both of whose districts include a part of Perry County chat. Johnson’s wife, Catherine, accompanied him to the reception.