Ashton Winkelmeyer
From Ballotpedia
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Ashton Winkelmeyer (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the Arkansas House of Representatives to represent District 74. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Winkelmeyer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Ashton Winkelmeyer was born in Dallas, Texas. He earned a graduate degree from Henderson State University in 2012. His career experience includes working as an educator and coach. Winkelmeyer has been affiliated with Little Rock Rangers Soccer Club and Habitat Young Professionals.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 74
Incumbent Tippi McCullough defeated Ashton Winkelmeyer in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 74 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tippi McCullough (D) | 77.7 | 9,002 |
 | Ashton Winkelmeyer (L)  | 22.3 | 2,578 | |
| Total votes: 11,580 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Tippi McCullough advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 74.
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Arkansas House of Representatives District 74
Ashton Winkelmeyer advanced from the Libertarian convention for Arkansas House of Representatives District 74 on February 20, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ashton Winkelmeyer (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ashton Winkelmeyer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Winkelmeyer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Ashton Winkelmeyer, but most people know me simply as “Coach Wink.” I’m proud to be thought of and referred to as a coach. I’ve dedicated my entire working life to the service of others – as a camp counselor, an elementary school teacher and as a soccer coach for the Little Rock Rangers. The same impulse to serve others that led me to become a teacher, a mentor and a coach has compelled me to run for state representative in district 74. My reason for running is simple. I want to help build a better future for my kids, my students, my district and the entire state of Arkansas.
- I see the world through the lens of my experience as a teacher, coach, husband and father. Put more simply, success for me has always been defined by the contributions I can make to the betterment of others. As a coach, for example, victory isn’t measured by wins and losses. Instead, success is when you equip kids with the skills, resilience and opportunity to work together to achieve their potential. I view elected office in the same way. The job of a legislator is to identify real problems and bring people together to develop realistic solutions. In most cases, those solutions don’t require the involvement of government, other than as a catalyst to unlock the goodwill and intelligence of our fellow citizens.
- It’s no secret that politics is broken. Too many Republican and Democratic politicians cater to the extreme views of the fringes of their parties. To do that, politicians from both parties instinctively attack the views, experiences and basic motivations of their opponents. We can all see the results of this dysfunction: Extremism, a growing hatred between Americans of different political parties and an inexcusable lack of attention to the very real challenges and opportunities facing all of us. I am not a politician. Which means that I can focus my time and efforts not on attacking my fellow Arkansans for political gain but instead working with others to create a better state for everyone. This perspective is rooted in my experience as a t
- Arkansans are perfectly capable of making their own decisions when it comes to matters of their own bodies and property. It’s a straightforward idea. We all have unique personal histories, value systems, family situations and priorities. Blanket policy mandates that seek to regulate decisions about our bodies and property can’t possibly account for the circumstances of our lives. By definition they are overreaching, counterproductive and not an area where the state legislature should devote its time.
I trust people to make decisions in their own self-interest. Which is why I’m a strong advocate for bodily autonomy. The recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade assumes that the government knows what’s best when it comes to an individual woman’s reproductive choices. The adverse impacts on women’s health and economic prospects have been exhaustively documented. All women should have the freedom to decide what’s best for themselves and their families without the intrusion of government. Similarly, I trust people to make their own decisions about medical issues, including whether or not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and other diseases. In the same way that I believe people have the intelligence and good sense to make the reproductive choices that are right for them, I am also convinced that families should be trusted to make medical decisions that align with their values and priorities.
Secondly, I believe that our essential workers need to be taken care of at any and all costs. Our nurses and our teachers were on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown. We need to find a way to encourage our locally trained and educated teachers and nurses to stay here in Arkansas. One example is to sponsor a bill that would provide a more comprehensive loan forgiveness program to teachers and nurses trained here in Arkansas
Secondly, I believe that our essential workers need to be taken care of at any and all costs. Our nurses and our teachers were on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown. We need to find a way to encourage our locally trained and educated teachers and nurses to stay here in Arkansas. One example is to sponsor a bill that would provide a more comprehensive loan forgiveness program to teachers and nurses trained here in Arkansas
I tend to gravitate to those who exude integrity, even if our political ideologies don't coincide. That being said, I have always looked up to Bernie Sanders. Even though I don't agree with all of his policies, he has always stood strong for what he believed was the best for the American People. Regardless if the stance he took was unpopular, or the race he was running was impossible to win, he fought to the very end and never wavered on his beliefs. I hope to be that strong if and when it comes down to it. Another hero of mine is Teddy Roosevelt. He was, by no means, a perfect man, or a perfect American, but he always went into every challenge with the belief that he could succeed. TR was fearless, and coming from a person who has many fears, I wish I could be more like that.
Unfortunately no, I haven't written it yet.
I think the most important characteristics an elected official must have are compassion, empathy and independence. At its core, the role of an elected official is to serve others. Without compassion and empathy, it’s impossible to understand and address the concerns and hopes of the people who elect you. The absence of these characteristics also makes it difficult to work constructively with other legislators. And without independence, politicians are far too likely to act in the interests of those with money and influence rather than to support the common good.
The same qualities that have helped me become a successful teacher and coach will serve me well as an officeholder. I am able to communicate with anyone regardless of his or her background or beliefs. I listen to others and value their experiences. But I also know how to get people to work together towards a common goal by drawing on their unique strengths and insisting on compromise. Ultimately, I care about people and want to find ways to serve them.
To put aside their own self-interest and represent their constituents correctly and honorably. Unfortunately, it seems like most officials tend to worry primarily about getting re-elected. Even if they are not aligned with their supporters.
a person with integrity that put aside his own interests for the better of those he was responsible for.
The first large historical event I remember was the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001. I was a senior in high school in Dallas, Texas. We watched the second plane crash into the World Trade Center during Economics class. It seemed surreal, even to a high school kid. The gravity of the situation never really sank in until I had grown into an adult and started having responsibilities of my own, like having a family and community. Up until then, I hadn't given much thought to how big the world really was, and that not everyone in that world thought and acted just like me and those around me.
My very first job was as a bag-boy at Albertson's Grocery Store, in Rowlett, TX. I had just turned 16 and was trying to purchase my first car. I worked there the entire summer until soccer season started that following winter.
It is hard to pick just one, but it would be a close tie between Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, and the Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin. My favorite reading topic is historical non-fiction because I like to put myself in the place of characters that I find interesting. Books like these, make it very easy to walk a mile in the character's shoes.
Pokemon Theme song - my sons are watching it in the other room
I have struggled with anxiety throughout my life. Even when things are going well, I tend to feel as if there is something I am not doing good enough.
I believe the ideal relationship between legislator and governor would be one of mutual respect. However, I do not believe having a Super-Majority, ever, is tenable for a healthy relationship. Even if our governor does not agree or believe in a bill, he/she can not only have his/her veto overruled, but he can be hamstrung by the looming threat that the legislator would overrule him/her. That does not give the governor the freedom to make his/her own decisions when it comes to the best interest of the state.
I believe the greatest challenge to our state and our nation over the next decade is political polarization. You don’t have to look hard to see how cancerous political divisions have become. Social media is a cesspool of political vitriol untethered to facts and unconcerned with the common good. If the two main parties have succeeded at anything in recent years, it is convincing millions of people that the political party they support defines their identity and values. This has obvious and profoundly negative consequences. No longer do people even identify as Americans and care about the wellbeing of their fellow citizens. It also increases distrust of government and other institutions that have and still can play a beneficial role in society. We all share responsibility for the breakdown of our politics. But political leaders need to use their platform to encourage and model the kind of public-spirited discourse and action we should all expect from one another.
The only state to have a Unicameral system is Nebraska, so I'll leave it to them to discuss the benefits and drawbacks.
As in any profession, experience and credentials can be useful in government and politics. But I don’t think any sane person could look at our current political leaders and system and not say that it could benefit from new ideas and experiences. When the primary objective of a politician is reelection, that purely selfish interest dictates their priorities and actions. Sadly, self-interest does not result in good policymaking and governance. The time to change that is now.
Here’s something I’ve learned in life: Those I don’t agree with often have a wealth of knowledge and insightful ideas about how to tackle difficult problems. The only reason I know that is because I take the time to build personal relationships with others. The value of strong, healthy relationships is especially important in politics. It’s how you build the trust and empathy necessary for compromise. It’s how you avoid the easy temptation to look first for a political opponent’s weakness and instead search for common ground and avenues for progress. In politics, though, I believe that the foundation of strong relationships has to be a commitment to serve constituents. Strong relationships that cement power and self-interest is a big part of the problem, not the solution.
This is not a hard call. It is the very definition of a conflict of interest to have the politicians whose careers depend on favorable constituencies draw district maps. Coming up with fair districts that force politicians to appeal to all voters and seek compromise should be the work of an independent, nonpartisan body.
See "Who do you look up to" for explanation on Bernie Sanders. Even though I might not agree with him totally, I also respect Rand Paul and his refusal to conform. An Arkansan legislator, Jim Hendren is another legislator who I would like to model myself after. He made a decision, albeit an unpopular one within his party, to stand up against the direction his party was going in.
Perhaps, if the opportunity arises.
I have not been in this arena very long, but the story I hear over and over again, is the one about people being fed up with partisan politics and watching our elected leaders fight with no resolve in sight.
What did the 3-legged dog say when he walked into the bar?
- I'm looking for the guy that shot my paw.
- I'm looking for the guy that shot my paw.
If I am reading this question correctly, then yes I do believe the legislature should oversee use of emergency powers, I do not however, think they should be responsibility for granting the use.
The very fact that this question is necessary says a lot about the dysfunction of politics today. What other realm of life – be it business, family, or school – would one question whether compromise was necessary or desirable? In my work as a teacher and a coach, compromise is how you make progress and achieve results. I understand that there is a political upside to embracing immovable ideological positions – it’s how politicians raise money and win primaries. But it’s also not how the real world works. I’d like to inject real world practicality, pragmatism and humility into the political process. Third parties can play a constructive role here. By injecting competition into campaigns and policymaking, third parties can push Democrats and Republicans to seek compromise and move away from instinctive, self-defeating partisanship.
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See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 6, 2022
Current members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
Leadership
Majority Leader:Howard Beaty
Minority Leader:Andrew Collins
Representatives
District 1
District 2
Trey Steimel (R)
District 3
Stetson Painter (R)
District 4
Jason Nazarenko (R)
District 5
Ron McNair (R)
District 6
Harlan Breaux (R)
District 7
Brit McKenzie (R)
District 8
Austin McCollum (R)
District 9
District 10
Mindy McAlindon (R)
District 11
Rebecca Burkes (R)
District 12
District 13
Scott Richardson (R)
District 14
Nick Burkes (R)
District 15
John Carr (R)
District 16
Kendon Underwood (R)
District 17
Randy Torres (R)
District 18
Robin Lundstrum (R)
District 19
Steven Unger (R)
District 20
Denise Garner (D)
District 21
Nicole Clowney (D)
District 22
David Whitaker (D)
District 23
Kendra Moore (R)
District 24
Brad Hall (R)
District 25
Chad Puryear (R)
District 26
James Eaton (R)
District 27
Steven Walker (R)
District 28
Bart Schulz (R)
District 29
Rick McClure (R)
District 30
District 31
Jimmy Gazaway (R)
District 32
Jack Ladyman (R)
District 33
Jon Milligan (R)
District 34
Joey Carr (R)
District 35
Jessie McGruder (D)
District 36
Johnny Rye (R)
District 37
Steve Hollowell (R)
District 38
Dwight Tosh (R)
District 39
Wayne Long (R)
District 40
Shad Pearce (R)
District 41
Alyssa Brown (R)
District 42
Stephen Meeks (R)
District 43
Rick Beck (R)
District 44
Stan Berry (R)
District 45
Aaron Pilkington (R)
District 46
Jon Eubanks (R)
District 47
Lee Johnson (R)
District 48
Ryan Rose (R)
District 49
Jay Richardson (D)
District 50
Zack Gramlich (R)
District 51
Cindy Crawford (R)
District 52
Marcus Richmond (R)
District 53
Matt Duffield (R)
District 54
Mary Bentley (R)
District 55
Matt Brown (R)
District 56
Steve Magie (D)
District 57
Cameron Cooper (R)
District 58
Les Eaves (R)
District 59
Jim Wooten (R)
District 60
Roger Lynch (R)
District 61
Jeremiah Moore (R)
District 62
Mark McElroy (R)
District 63
Lincoln Barnett (D)
District 64
Ken Ferguson (D)
District 65
Glenn Barnes (D)
District 66
Mark Perry (D)
District 67
Karilyn Brown (R)
District 68
Brian Evans (R)
District 69
David Ray (R)
District 70
Carlton Wing (R)
District 71
Brandon Achor (R)
District 72
Tracy Steele (D)
District 73
Andrew Collins (D)
District 74
Tippi McCullough (D)
District 75
Ashley Hudson (D)
District 76
Joy Springer (D)
District 77
Fred Allen (D)
District 78
Keith Brooks (R)
District 79
Tara Shephard (D)
District 80
Denise Ennett (D)
District 81
RJ Hawk (R)
District 82
Tony Furman (R)
District 83
Paul Childress (R)
District 84
Les Warren (R)
District 85
Richard McGrew (R)
District 86
John Maddox (R)
District 87
DeAnn Vaught (R)
District 88
Dolly Henley (R)
District 89
Justin Gonzales (R)
District 90
Richard Womack (R)
District 91
Bruce Cozart (R)
District 92
Julie Mayberry (R)
District 93
Mike Holcomb (R)
District 94
Jeff Wardlaw (R)
District 95
Howard Beaty (R)
District 96
Sonia Barker (R)
District 97
Matthew Shepherd (R)
District 98
Wade Andrews (R)
District 99
Lane Jean (R)
District 100
Carol Dalby (R)
Republican Party (81)
Democratic Party (19)
