Arkansas House of Representatives District 10 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Arkansas, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 10 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

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• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 10

Mindy McAlindon defeated Kate Schaffer in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 10 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mindy McAlindon (R)	56.3	6,519
		Kate Schaffer (D)	43.7	5,059

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,578
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Mindy McAlindon (R)

Lower Taxes will help families thrive and lead to economic opportunities.

School Choice will help families make the best educational decisions for each child. It will also help all schools improve.

Economic Development will help Arkansas utilize its many resources and become the best it can be.

Kate Schaffer (D)

● I care about the value of Arkansas’ creative economy, investing in more art and technology at all levels of education—Pre K through Higher Ed—means keeping our kids in our home state

● I support the state doing its part to boost Public/private partnerships to solve our workforce development, transportation and affordable housing hurdles.

● I’ll fight for quality and affordable early childhood education through Pre K and head start programs. I support the RAISE Act, we must pay teachers more. I will champion these issues in the state house.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Mindy McAlindon (R)

I am passionate about improving our education options. A good education is best gift you can give a child. Having options on where to send a child as well as technical and vocational alternatives to college will help each student find their strengths and develop a great career.

I believe that Arkansas is on the cusp of large economic development. With the right fiscal policies and incentives, we can continue to grow Arkansas give our citizens abundant opportunities to work and thrive.

Kate Schaffer (D)

Children and Family related policies

Voting rights and accessibility Economic development, especially as it relates to the importance of the creative economy

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Kate Schaffer (D)

I revere many historical figures, some living and some not:

President Jimmy Carter Eleanor Roosevelt Ida B Wells Ruth Bader Ginsburg My grandmother, now deceased, Sue Deener, she worked as a single mother raising my mom in the 1940s and sent her to college.

My cousin, Pat Engel, who was an educator and is a life long learner.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Kate Schaffer (D)

I believe my core values are commitment, compassion and loyalty--all qualities that make caring and compromising legislators.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Kate Schaffer (D)

I would like to support and pass bills that lift up all Arkansans.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Kate Schaffer (D)

Vietnam War. I was 5 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Kate Schaffer (D)

My very first job when I was 16 was flipping burgers at Wendy's, then during summers in college I worked for the State of Illinois, Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. (as it was called at the time)

What is your favorite book? Why?

Mindy McAlindon (R)

The Bible is without question the one book I would want to have. Born Again by Chuck Colson and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee are two favorites. They are inspiring books about faith in adversity and standing strong for what is right even when there is pressure to change your values.

Kate Schaffer (D)

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Beautifully written and moving.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Kate Schaffer (D)

Abigail Adams.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Kate Schaffer (D)

Anything from the musical Hamilton.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Kate Schaffer (D)

I suffered the loss of a spouse at the age of 26.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Kate Schaffer (D)

I believe the ideal relationship is Collaborative- -open communication, respectful even in differences.

Governor suggests, legislature should drive the momentum, and the governor adapts to the situation. I believe special sessions are the governor’s purview, to focus on specific issues as they arise.

The Legislature calling itself into session is a situation rife with self-dealing concerns.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Kate Schaffer (D)

My area of the state will be focused on Infrastructure as we see massive growth and economic development, and will continue to meet the challenges of rising housing and not enough housing.

Arkansas will continue to focus on Agribusiness challenges, energy needs and climate change.

In addition, Arkansas in general needs to focus on improving our standing in education, maternal and child health, teen pregnancy and other issues in order to retain and attract talent. We also have to balance educating our youth for future economic security by offering tech career paths.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Kate Schaffer (D)

N/A

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Kate Schaffer (D)

Of course, once you know someone disagreeing with them becomes more civil and compromise is easier reached.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Kate Schaffer (D)

I favor an independent commission, because true representation can only be decided impartially.

It always encourages civic engagement if the results are not a foregone conclusion.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Kate Schaffer (D)

Aging and Children, transportation, insurance and commerce.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Kate Schaffer (D)

Soon to be former Senator Joyce Elliott.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Kate Schaffer (D)

Compromise is a necessary aspect of a functioning government. In order to compromise, legislators must disagree in good faith to reach a common goal. When legislators can trust their colleagues’ good intentions, a stronger working relationship flourishes, which can lead to success on otherwise

See also

More about these elections:

• Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2022

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