Williams elected speaker-designate
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Photographs by Gavin Lesnick
FILE - Rep. Darrin Williams addresses the House in March before his election as speaker-designate.
Originally published March 9, 2012 at 07:39a.m., updated March 9, 2012 at 02:16p.m.
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas House of Representatives has elected Rep. Darrin Williams as speaker-designate.
Williams, who becomes the first black speaker-designate in the history of the Arkansas House, was elected 54 to 46 a short time after Arkansas legislators adjourned the 2012 fiscal session.
Williams, D-Little Rock, ran against Rep. Terry Rice, R-Waldron. Both men promised bipartisanship approaches to the role with Williams calling on members to avoid "Washington D.C.-style politics."
"My vision for our house is that we honor our republic form of government by focusing on collective efforts on representing the needs and the interests of the people," he said in a speech before the election. "I'm a proud Democrat, but I respect the Republicans in this chamber."
The vote, by secret ballot, may have been along party lines. There are 54 Democrats and 46 Republicans in the house.
Speaking in a news conference after the election, Williams listed the broad topics of economic development, education and Medicare funding as his principal goals.
"I look forward to working with each member of the General Assembly to move our state forward and continue to build on the progress we have made in the 88th General Assembly," he said. "... Our work begins today."
The speaker could still change, however, when the House reconvenes. When it does so in 2013, members must vote to confirm the speaker-designate as speaker of the house and it's possible the Republicans will win the majority in November elections.
Williams said previously that the House should keep as speaker whoever was elected initially. Rice has said it should be up to the controlling political party.
Asked about the possibility of another speaker coming in if Republicans take control, Williams said it would be like changing "horses in midstream" and harm productivity. He said the house rules say the speaker-designate is the person who is intended to be speaker of the house and noted there had never been a change before.
"I didn't run to be majority leader," he said, standing beside current Speaker of the House, Democrat Robert Moore. "I ran to be speaker-designate and then speaker of the 89th general assembly. Robert Moore set a good example. I don't think he was a Democratic speaker or a Republican speaker. He was our speaker."
Williams noted the "historical significance" of being the first black speaker, but said it wasn't why he ran or why he was elected.
"Clearly it's nice, but I've been black for 43 years, so I'm kind of used to this," he said. "So I don't feel any different."
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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KEVIN MCCLENDON Rolltide says...
Wow that is surprising. A vote that was by party lines. Never would have saw that coming
Posted 9 March 2012, 1:42 p.m. Suggest removal
RICHARD BRITTAIN RBBrittain says...
@Rolltide, party-line division has NOT been the day-to-day norm in the Arkansas legislature; even when there were very few Republicans, they usually received the same respect in seniority, positions, etc. as Democrats. Unfortunately, it seems the current crop of GOP House members wants to do away with this; though tradition understandably holds more firm in the Senate, even there it's starting to crumble.
Posted 9 March 2012, 4:20 p.m. Suggest removal
MICHAEL BATTENFIELD TheBatt says...
Nice- nothing like the Democrats hedging their bets ahead of the Fall elections, where there is a pretty significant chance that the Republicans will have a majority.
Posted 9 March 2012, 11:49 p.m. Suggest removal
FRUITSOFTHE SPIRIT onlyGodmatters says...
Did it ever occur to those of you who have a problem with an African American as Speaker-Designate that slavery is over? That the people who elected him have progressed beyond the days of slavery? When one individual commits a crime, our entire race is bashed. When one individual gets elected to Speaker-Designate something is wrong with the current crop of GOP House members. Please tell me what Representative Williams has ever done to you?
Posted 13 March 2012, 1:59 p.m. Suggest removal
FRUITSOFTHE SPIRIT onlyGodmatters says...
I would love to see your comments on the "Trial dates set for 4 men accused in fraud schemes" article.
Posted 13 March 2012, 2 p.m. Suggest removal
THOMAS CRASE PatWaverly says...
Hey onlyGodmatters, what in heavens name are you talking about? Are you commenting on this article and comments? I went back to see where anyone referenced race or slavery or whatever and I'm still looking.
Posted 13 March 2012, 2:28 p.m. Suggest removal
FRUITSOFTHE SPIRIT onlyGodmatters says...
What type of person would, in this day and age, be surprised that an African American was elected to the Speaker-Designate position? What type of person would have a problem with the current crop of GOP House members or tradition in the Senate starting to crumble? To answer your question, PatWaverly, the implication was there. It doesn't have to be explicit. Contrary to what some of you think, we can and do read. And we can read between the lines.
Posted 13 March 2012, 3:10 p.m. Suggest removal
I TOLD YOU NO NAME NoUserName says...
Unfortunately, people like onlyGod onlyServe to perpetuate racism.
Posted 13 March 2012, 4:03 p.m. Suggest removal
JOHN SMITH Packman says...
Every time I give democrats credit for doing the right thing, I end up eating my words. Regardless, it seems they did the right thing by electing Mr. Williams speaker. It appears to be a totally color-blind choice. Williams is intelligent, articlulate, and affable. Too bad he's not a Republican.
Posted 13 March 2012, 4:05 p.m. Suggest removal
FRUITSOFTHE SPIRIT onlyGodmatters says...
NoUserName, comments made by harley.... on an article relating to a Resource Fair "Fair helps out-of-jail life", to help ALL ex-offenders transition back into society, sparked this. He apparently didn't bother to read the article and went off on this tangent about relocating the Fairgrounds not alleviating crime; leopards don't change their spots; they have to be controlled; yada yada yada. Based on comments that I see, we're all labeled as criminals when one individual causes a problem. Then when we do something good, like get elected as Speaker-Designate, comments are posted implying that we don't deserve it; or we're not qualified or capable of handling the job. What gives? Why can't we love our neighbor as ourselves as God commanded? I don't hate anyone. I'm certainly not a racist. I just want us to all get along. I do realize that we're all entitled to freedom of speech and opinion for that matter, but having ought against your neighbor is not going to get you into heaven. If you're happy for Mr. Williams, congratulate him; wish him well; provide constructive criticism/feedback that he can use to make the world a better place. If you're not happy for him, please don't post comments to offend those of us who are.
Posted 14 March 2012, 11:29 a.m. Suggest removal
THOMAS CRASE PatWaverly says...
To onlyGodmatters, with all due respect, when you use the word "we" as in "when we do something good, like get elected Speaker-Designate" don't you think you perpetuate an us vs. them (Black vs. White) mentality? It sure seems to me that you are, for whatever reason, confusing Republican vs. Democrat with Black vs. White. I mean a Black man is President of the United States for goodness sake, so what is it going to take before you drop this "we" and "our" stuff? I know it's not a good way to debate, but if I were to use the word "we" or "us" or "our" to describe the accomplishment of a White person I'm pretty sure you'd hammer me without mercy on here.
Posted 14 March 2012, 3:53 p.m. Suggest removal
I TOLD YOU NO NAME NoUserName says...
onlyGod, your rebuttal for your comments is a user who posted in another - unrelated - thread? And that user didn't even comment in THIS thread. Really? Nobody here has said Williams a) isn't qualified or b) can't do the job. You have manufactured that. Fact is, that type of accusation perpetuates racism. And the fact that you run through your diatribe shows me that you just don't get it.
Posted 14 March 2012, 4:31 p.m. Suggest removal
Doctor Rosenrosen BarichMilhusseinObamaNixonPOTUS says...
Amazing to watch people mfg. racism like OnlyGodMatters. People who want to interject racism use little tricks like claiming "reading between the lines". Pathetic and embarrassing OGM
Posted 14 March 2012, 7:43 p.m. Suggest removal
MADD JACK DontDrinkDatKoolAid says...
The real problem is that he was a former Mark Pryor aide who is a Socialist Democrat.
Posted 14 March 2012, 10:05 p.m. Suggest removal
PAT DOWNING pat7220906231328 says...
I am new to "online paper"....WHAT GOOD IS READING COMMENTS SEVERAL MONTHS OLD....OR FOR THAT MATTER "LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS SEVERAL MONTHS OLD"? I am having a hard time dealing with many articles and comments...a lot of duplication in the articles.
Posted 4 July 2012, 12:31 p.m. Suggest removal