Mark A. Darr (born July 3, 1973) is the 15th and current Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas. A member of the Republican Party, Darr was elected to succeed Democrat Bill Halter in 2010, having defeated Democratic challenger State Senator and former House Speaker Shane Broadway by a margin of 51 to 49 percent.^[1]

Early life and career [edit]

Darr was born in 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He is a graduate of Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Arkansas, and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Political career [edit]

Darr was elected Lieutenant Governor on November 2, 2010. He is the youngest person to win a statewide race as a Republican in Arkansas.^[2] Prior to the election, he had never run for public office. On November 2, 2010, in the closest constitutional race, Darr defeated state senator (and former Arkansas House Speaker Shane Broadway. Darr campaigned on the notion that he could file suit against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which would be the duty of the attorney general. Darr promised to reduce wasteful spending, restore trust in government, and to establish a check and balance between the voter and those elected to office. In his first session the Arkansas Transparency Act was signed into law. The "online checkbook" as it is known will be up and running on July 1, 2012.

Family life [edit]

Darr and his wife Kim have two children, Madison and Cooper. Darr is a licensed insurance agent and also co-owns two restaurants in Rogers, Arkansas. Kim is a elementary school music teacher at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, where they reside. They are members of megachurch Cross Church (formerly known as First Baptist Church of Springdale) in Springdale and are active in the choir.

See also [edit]

• Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mark Darr

• Arkansas Lieutenant Governors Office

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