Donnie Copeland
| Donnie Ray Copeland | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 38th district | |
| Preceded by | Patti Julian |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 16, 1961 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Shari Annette Copeland |
| Children |
Three children, including |
| Residence |
North Little Rock Pulaski County Arkansas |
| Alma mater | University of Louisiana at Monroe |
| Occupation | Pentecostal pastor at Apostolic Church in North Little Rock |
Donnie Ray Copeland (born March 16, 1961)[1] is the pastor of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas,[2] who is a departing one-term Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 38 in Pulaski County.[3]
Background
A native of Monroe in northeast Louisiana, Copeland attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe, when the institution was known as Northeast Louisiana University. He is the former pastor of the Greater Life Church in Sherman, Texas. Earlier, he was an assistant pastor in West Monroe, Louisiana. He is associated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and sits on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.[1]
He and his wife, the former Shari Annette Copeland, have three children.[1]
Political life
Rather than seeking a second term in the state House, Copeland ran unsuccessfully on March 1, 2016, in the Republican primary election for the District 34 seat in Arkansas State Senate. He polled 6,365 votes (48.8 percent) against the successful incumbent, Jane English, who received 6,687 votes (51.2 percent).[4] English faces the Democrat Joe Woodson, also of North Little Rock, in the November 8 general election.[5] Copeland will be succeeded in January 2017 by either fellow Republican Carlton Wing or the Democrat Victoria Leigh, who meet in the upcoming general election.[6]
In 2014, Copeland won the House position with 5,710 votes (51.5 percent), when he unseated the one-term Democrat Patti Julian, who polled 5,389 votes (48.5 percent).[4]
In his legislative term, Copeland served on these committees: (1) City, County and Local Affairs, (2) Judiciary, (3) Energy, and (4) Joint Public Retirement and Social Security.[3][1]
In 2010, Copeland polled 60,072 votes (48.1 percent) in his first election contes, a run for the Republican primary for Arkansas lieutenant governor, having been defeated by Mark Darr, who received 64,883 votes (51.9 percent). Darr then defeated in the general election the Democrat Shane Broadway for the seat vacated by another Democrat, Bill Halter.[4]
After Copeland lost the state Senate primary, the Jacksonville City Council voted to condemn some apartments which Copeland owns. He was given thirty days to demolish the units or bring them up to code standards. The city claims the apartments are a blight on nearby Dupree Park, which is used for baseball tournaments. Copeland said that he has no interest in being a "slum lord" and may have to raze the apartments. He is seeking a loan to develop the property.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Donnie Copeland's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Donnie Copeland". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- 1 2 "Donnie Copeland". arkansashouse.org. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Copeland, Donnie". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Arkansas State Senate 34". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Arkansas House of Representatives District 38". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ↑ Max Brantley (March 21, 2016). "Jacksonville Council condemns state Rep. Donnie Copeland's apartments". Retrieved April 30, 2016.
| Preceded by Patti Julian |
Arkansas State Representative for District 38 (Pulaski County) Donnie Ray Copeland |
Succeeded by Pending |