Jim Nickels
Jim Nickels is a former Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 41 from 2009 to 2015. Nickels did not seek re-election in 2014.
Biography
Nickels' professional experience includes working as an attorney with the Nickels Law Firm and as a Professor at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Nickels served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Joint Budget |
| • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs |
| • Judiciary |
| • State Agencies and Governmental Affairs |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Nickels served on these committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • Legislative Joint Auditing |
| • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs |
| • State Agencies and Governmental Affairs |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Nickels served on these committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development |
| • Judiciary |
Issues
Sponsored legislation
Nickels' sponsored legislation includes:
- HB 1464 - "AN ACT TO AMEND THE MINIMUM WAGE TO PARALLEL THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE LAW."
- HB 1891 - "TO ESTABLISH A UNIFIED HEALTH CARE BENEFIT PROGRAM FOR ALL PUBLICLY FUNDED EMPLOYEES AND RETIRED EMPLOYEES."
- HB 1935 - "TO REPEAL THE CHECK-CASHERS ACT"
For a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
Political courage test
Nickels provided answers to the Arkansas State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected. When asked his legislative priorities he responded:
- 1. Strengthen lobbyist and candidate disclosure. Limit campaign contributions to $1000.
- 2. Pay day lending: define interest to include fees charged.[1]
Elections
2012
Nickels ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Arkansas House of Representatives, District 41. Nickels ran unopposed in the May 22 Democratic primary and defeated Alan Pogue (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[2][3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Jim Nickels Incumbent |
52% | 6,700 | |
| Republican | Alan L. Pogue | 48% | 6,192 | |
| Total Votes | 12,892 | |||
2010
Nickels won re-election to the 43rd District seat in 2010. He faced no opposition.[5]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Nickels won election to the 43rd District Seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives, defeating opponent Steven Meckfessel (R).[6]
Nickels raised $59,903 for his campaign, while Meckfessel raised $26,863.[7]
| Arkansas State House, District 43 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Jim Nickels (D)
|
7,181 | |||
| Steven Meckfessel (R) | 6,552 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
In 2014, the Arkansas General Assembly was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arkansas General Assembly in 2013.
- Advance Arkansas Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes on the principles the organization seeks to promote, which the Advance Arkansas Institute lists as "free markets, individual liberty and limited transparent government."
- Arkansas Citizens First Congress — Legislators are scored on the bills that the Arkansas Citizens First Congress found most important.
- Arkansas Learns — Legislators are scored on the bills specifically supported by Arkansas Learns.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arkansas General Assembly in 2012.
- Advance Arkansas Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes on the principles the organization seeks to promote, which the Advance Arkansas Institute lists as "free markets, individual liberty and limited transparent government."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arkansas General Assembly in 2011.
- Arkansas Citizens First Congress — Legislators are scored on the bills that the Arkansas Citizens First Congress found most important.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Nickels serves on the Executive Board of the Little Rock Workforce Investment Board, and is a member of a number of organizations, including the Labor and Employment Relations Association, American Association for Justice, American Association of University Professors, and Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.[8]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Jim + Nickels + Arkansas + House
See also
- Arkansas House of Representatives
- House Committees
- Arkansas State Legislature
- Arkansas state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Nickels Issue Positions," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Election Results 2012," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2012 Election candidates," March 8, 2012
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official election results," accessed December 13, 2013
- ↑ VoteNaturally.org, "2008 general election results, Arkansas," November 4, 2008
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Arkansas House spending, 2008," November 4, 2008
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Nickels Biography," accessed May 12, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ed Garner (R) |
Arkansas House District 41 2013–2015 |
Succeeded by Karilyn Brown (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Arkansas House District 43 2009–2013 |
Succeeded by Davy Carter (R) |
