Pam Whitaker

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Pam Whitaker

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Oklahoma State University, 1992

Personal

Birthplace

Amarillo, Texas

Religion

Christian

Profession

Systems engineering

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Pam Whitaker (Democratic Party) ran for election for Arkansas Treasurer. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Whitaker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Pam Whitaker was born in Amarillo, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1992. Her career experience includes working in systems engineering, process improvement, and project management.

Elections

2022

See also: Arkansas Treasurer election, 2022

General election

General election for Arkansas Treasurer

Mark Lowery defeated Pam Whitaker in the general election for Arkansas Treasurer on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Lowery (R)	66.3	592,634
		Pam Whitaker (D)	33.7	301,600

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 894,234
= 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. Pam Whitaker advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas Treasurer.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arkansas Treasurer

Mark Lowery defeated Mathew Pitsch in the Republican primary for Arkansas Treasurer on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Lowery	74.8	239,360
		Mathew Pitsch	25.2	80,565

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 319,925
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Pam Whitaker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Whitaker's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Pam Whitaker is a 18+ yr. professional in the IT Technology/Software Engineering field. Pam holds a Bachelors of Computer Science from Oklahoma State University. Her expertise includes Cyber Security, Process Improvement, Systems Engineering, Audit Controls & Contract Management. Her greatest strength is in the area of "Change" leadership and building consensus within complex stakeholder communities demonstrated by her leadership role within the IRS Dept. of Treasury “Center of Excellence”, located in Washington DC. Pam is the Owner/CEO of an Arkansas based Security firm and is the Founder of a Non-profit Cyber Fly Girls, which trains and mentors women in Engineering & Flight fields where they are currently under represented. Pam is focused on positive change at the local level, serving on boards which include Volunteers of Little Rock School District, League of Women Voters, National Contract Management, Project Management Institute and InfraGard & ISACA - Security Professional organizations. Pam has served in a variety of economic sectors including Government, Healthcare, Construction and Banking. Pam has held Security Clearance Levels up to Top Secret. Over the years Pam has experienced various Systemic and Ethical Challenges which she has steered through with integrity and persistence. Pam's colleagues have encouraged her onto a political path and even as she is blessed with a full family life, she considers it important to step up in this public service role.

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?

• Arkansas State Treasurer is a position of "Trust" and my background and life story indicate that I am a person of integrity that can be trusted in this crucial role
• Equipping our young entrepreneurs, women and minority owned firms and farms with financial knowledge, means a sustainable economic climate for years to come
• In order to achieve financial equity for all and to provide data driven decisions, from our farms to our forests, its vital to invest in Broadband improvements all across our State

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. In relation to the State Treasurer position, I would emphasize that while it is first and foremost of importance to Protect and Grow our Arkansas State funds. It is also of utmost important to Protect our Environment. I think there are many in our "Natural State" that would agree that our natural resources are of prime importance.

To continue to use only the "Gross Domestic Product" as a measurement for a countries economic success, certainly does not tell the whole story. The GDP number does not reflect the current well being of our communities and since it only looks at production and does not take into account regeneration or sustainability qualifiers it only reflects what we take away from our world, not what we return.

2. Financial Education & Equity for our young business owners and the growing number of female farmers in our State is essential to the prosperity of these individuals as well as our State as a whole. I plan to extend the educational arm of the Treasurers office to help move these self initiators forward.

3. We are all impacted by Cyber Security breaches and Fraud attempts at a personal as well as State and National levels. It is one of my goals as Treasurer to continue my current work in educating our communities across the State how to best protect the health and wealth of themselves and their families.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The role of State Treasurer is a role of "Trust" my background, values and training are a good fit for this office. I believe that the State Treasurer office can be transformed into becoming a transparent office with a leadership role in training our State's citizens in ways to invest in a healthier planet and ways to expand financial equity for each and every person in our State.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The belief that everyone of our voters has something to offer and they should understand that they have a voice and as leaders we should work on letting them know how they can make their voices heard through attending committees, registering to vote, organizing their communities and making sure they have representation in office.

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

I have been tested in ethically challenging situations and my natural response is one of courage and trust.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

There are required meetings and reports for this office as related to the Board of Finance. Making sure those reports are correct and meeting the set financial goals are the core requirements. I will be extending the educational and influential arm of this office along with these core responsibilities.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As a woman that has spent her life in male dominated career fields and fought many a fight to reach my personal career goals in these situations, it is my goal to make sure that younger women have more opportunities and fewer hills to climb if they also decide to enter these fields.

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

I was 8 when Kennedy was shot. It happened during the school day and we were all rushed to the auditorium. It was a shocking event for a young child and made me curious about our countries leaders.

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

Huck Finn always seemed to have a good time and I love the outdoors

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

At the age of 14, I had a dream to fly jets for the Navy, but I was told that women were not allowed to do that job (Women were not allowed to be trained as Navy aviators until 1974). My parents were under the social rules that "girls" did one thing professionally and "boys" did another. They also saw no reason for me to attend college. I worked from the age of 16, putting myself through Community College and thankfully with help from Pell grants, loans and childcare assistance I graduated with a Bachelors in Computer Science as a single mother of two from Oklahoma State University. I have struggled my whole life with these sorts of issues all during my career. There has been many a time that I had to stand up and make a lot of noise that I was a Lead Engineer as I progressed in my career.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Protection and growth of our State's funds in a transparent manner is job one.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Yes, I believe that this office can be expanded to include more educational and safety offerings throughout the State.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

My background has included many instances of dealing with politically charged situations. Working in an environment where multiple views must be taken into consideration (such as Project Management and Process Improvement roles) are I believe important in this office. Due to my background and my response in working with a variety of stakeholders to reach common goals I have been encouraged to move into policy making. I am stepping up to run for this office and my experience is relevant.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

As there is a staff, it is important to understand how to work with people and to make sure that not only am I myself a person of "trust" but by my actions the staff will also take on this mantle of trust and transparency that is so important for this work.

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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Arkansas Treasurer

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