Reply #3: Jim Argue D-Little Rock

[ChoralScholar]

Jim Argue - President Pro Tempore, Arkansas State Senate
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Jim Argue, Jr., a member of the Arkansas State Senate, attended Little Rock Public Schools, graduated from Hall High, and earned a degree in history and political science from Hendrix College in 1973.

Jim served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for six years prior to being elected to the State Senate in 1996. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2000 and 2002. He is Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He serves on the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Joint Budget Committee, the Joint Energy Committee, the Legislative Joint Audit Committee, the Legislative Council and the Senate Efficiency Committee. His colleagues have designated him to serve as President Pro Tempore of the Senate when the 85th General Assembly convenes in January, 2005.

Jim was named a Flemming Fellow in 1997 by the Center For Policy Alternatives in Washington, D. C. and completed a year-long course of study focused on creative solutions to our chronic problems. He has served two terms as a director of the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory in Austin, Texas, and is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Southern Regional Education Board in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1981 Jim became President of the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, and under his leadership, Foundation assets have grown from $67,000 to over $76,000,000. The Foundation develops and administers permanent, charitable endowment funds to support United Methodist ministries in Arkansas.

Jim has offered his time and energy to organizations that improve our community and state. He is past Chairman of the Administrative Board of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. He is a fellow of the Leadership Institute of Little Rock and has received the organization's Distinguished Leadership Award. He is past president of the board of Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center. He serves on the boards of St. Vincent Medical Center and the National Conference for Community and Justice. He received the NCCJ's Father Joseph Biltz award in 2000. He also serves on the boards of the Arkansas Travelers Baseball Club and the Arkansas Historical Society.

Jim is married to Elise Carey Argue, and they have two daughters, Sarah (23) and Emily (21). Elise is a former Co-President of the Central High School PTA.