Drop a note, email your state legislators

Written communications are valued, lawmakers say, but some rules do apply

Maylon T. Rice
Maylon T. Rice

Never disregard the value of a handwritten note.

Or a very civil telephone call.

Those were two of the most often requested and suggested forms of communication valued by Arkansas lawmakers, politicians tell me.

And with the start of the 90-day Legislative Session down in Little Rock, I am focused on how you as citizens can contact your state legislators.

So while most of this column may look like just a list of names, telephone numbers and email addresses, believe you me, you will wish you had clipped this column for future reference and a handy guide in just a few short weeks.

I have written before about the protocol for emails. Keep them short. Make them in your own words (never just forward a forwarded email to your legislative leaders).

Be genuine.

Also, there are protocols to calling both the Arkansas State House of Representatives and the Arkansas State Senate during the session.

During the session to contact the House of Representatives call 1-501-682-6211.

For the State Senate call 1-501-682-2902 during the session.

Both these numbers only take messages for legislators to call you back. You may be asked if you have a bill number you want to talk to the lawmakers about. Please give your name and a call back number and remain civil -- these are just telephone answering personnel, not the lawmakers.

While the rest of the column is indeed a list, just know this, soon you will wish you had these names, phone numbers and emails.

Benton County State Senators and their contact information are as follows:

• State Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, Dist. 1, 479-531-4176, email [email protected]

• Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Gravette, Dist. 2, 479-787-6222, email, jimhendren@hendrenplastics

• State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers, 479-636-2115, email [email protected]

• Benton County House of Representatives members and their contact information is as follows:

• State Rep. Robin Lundstrom, R-Siloam Springs, Dist. 87, 479-957-1959, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Jana DellaRosa, R-Rogers, Dist. 90, 479-283-9303, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville, Dist. 91, 479-619-9231, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, Dist. 92, 479-787-6500, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, Dist. 93, 479-644-0740, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Rebecca Petty, R-Rogers, Dist. 94, 479-621-3464, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Austin McCollum, R-Rogers, Dist. 95, 479-426-4141, email [email protected]

• State Rep. Grant Hodges, R-Rogers, Dist. 96, 479-381-9513, email [email protected]

This is a quick and easy way to stay connected to your elected officials in the days ahead.

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Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 01/18/2017