Mark Darr

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Mark Darr
Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2011
Governor Mike Beebe
Preceded by Bill Halter
Personal details
Born (1973-07-03) July 3, 1973 (age 39)
Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kim Darr
Children Madison
Cooper
Alma mater Ouachita Baptist University
Religion Southern Baptist

Mark A. Darr (born July 3, 1973) is the 15th and current Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas. A member of the Republican Party, Darr was elected to succeed Democrat Bill Halter in 2010, having defeated Democratic challenger State Senator and former House Speaker Shane Broadway by a margin of 51 to 49 percent.[1]

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Early life and career[edit]

Darr was born in 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He is a graduate of Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Arkansas, and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Political career[edit]

Darr was elected Lieutenant Governor on November 2, 2010. He is the youngest person to win a statewide race as a Republican in Arkansas.[2] Prior to the election, he had never run for public office. On November 2, 2010, in the closest constitutional race, Darr defeated state senator (and former Arkansas House Speaker Shane Broadway. Darr campaigned on the notion that he could file suit against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which would be the duty of the attorney general. Darr promised to reduce wasteful spending, restore trust in government, and to establish a check and balance between the voter and those elected to office. In his first session the Arkansas Transparency Act was signed into law. The "online checkbook" as it is known will be up and running on July 1, 2012.

Family life[edit]

Darr and his wife Kim have two children, Madison and Cooper. Darr is a licensed insurance agent and also co-owns two restaurants in Rogers, Arkansas. Kim is a elementary school music teacher at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, where they reside. They are members of megachurch Cross Church (formerly known as First Baptist Church of Springdale) in Springdale and are active in the choir.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "For incoming No. 2, politics new territory GOP’s Darr eager to start state work". Arkansas Online. November 14, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010. 
  2. ^ "Lieutenant Governor Mark A. Darr". Arkansas Lieutenant Governors Office. 

External links[edit]


Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Halter
Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
2011–present
Incumbent