Incumbent District 25 State Senator Stephanie Flowers squared off with her Democratic primary opponent, District 11 State Representative Efrem Elliott, in a debate as part of a ‘Meet the Candidates Forum’ held Tuesday at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center and sponsored by the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus.
The debate format had the two moderators ask the candidates questions with each one given two minutes to respond and a rebuttal period for the candidate who answered first.
Miss UAPB Raulandy Watley and Marquies Carter of the Student Government Association acted as the moderators.
Watley asked the first question.
“Governor Beebe has proposed doubling the college graduation rate by 2025. How do you plan to achieve this goal?”
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Flowers answered first.
“We need to look at our remediation rates,” Flowers said. “We also need to see who is getting lottery scholarships and who is maintaining them. There are provisions in the legislation for grants through the lottery but no grants have been distributed. We also need to do better by our high school students because many of them need remediation after graduation. I have been concerned about this since 2004.”
Elliott started by thanking the Black Caucus for holding the forum and reminded the audience that he is a member.
“We need creative ways to teach the kids we have,” Elliott said. “There are no dumb children. If we use some of the new techniques that have been developed we can help more children to graduate. We need incentives for our students. We can have high school students helping elementary school students. Each one teach one.”
In her rebuttal, Flowers highlighted her legislative achievements.
“I’ve had legislation passed during my three terms in the House on parental involvement in their children’s education and for inspecting and maintaining public schools. I have the endorsement of the Arkansas Education Association.”
Carter asked the candidates what they plan to do to make college more affordable and Elliott answered first.
“We need to develop paid internship programs,” Elliott said. “For instance if a student wants to become a police officer there should be an internship that allows him or her to see what police life is like. It puts money in their pockets and gives them the experience that they need. I would also take a close look at the scholarship lottery and see if adjustments are needed. Every student should be able to apply for a scholarship lottery. There are times when students don’t find out about grants that are available to help them pay for college because their guidance counselor or teacher doesn’t let them know what is available.”
Flowers said that she actually passed legislation to make a list of all available scholarship and grant programs that can be handed to students mandatory at all school districts in the state.
“In 2007 I successfully sponsored legislation to require that a list of scholarship and grant information is available to high school students,” Flowers said. “The trouble is that often after a law is passed it is the implementation that can take a while.”
Elliott began his answer by painting Flowers as a legislator who is not getting her constituents what they need.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Elliott said. “My opponent is engaged in typical politics. If there is a specific bill that addresses a problem it should be made known to the people. If we don’t give it to you as legislators we haven’t done our job.”
Watley asked the candidates how the negative tone of the District 25 race reflects on each of them as candidates and Flowers answered first.
“My campaign has tried to stay positive and I continue to stand for integrity in politics,” Flowers said. “Governing should be done using sound and fair principles. I have practiced law for 30 years. I love this state, this city and UAPB. The negativity that has been cast my way by my opponent has made me weary. I am thankful for the support of the people who support my campaign.”
Elliott said that he was glad that the question had been asked.
“Anything that my campaign has said is very truthful,” Elliott said. “My opponent has been throwing stones and trying to hide her hands. On the issue of the halfway house, she said that she supported it. It is on tape. On suing UAPB she did that.”
Carter asked what each candidate w0uld do to incorporate UAPB into any development plans for the area and Elliott answered first.
“We need to take some time to see what needed to move Jefferson County forward,” Elliott said. “There is no elected official now who has agreed to sit down and discuss a five-year plan for the county.”
Flowers said that her legislative record was proof of her commitment to UAPB and to Jefferson County.
“I have a record of getting things done for UAPB and for Pine Bluff,” Flowers said. “I have had three terms as a state representative and am in my first term in the senate. Here at UAPB there are degree programs in criminal justice and in addiction studies. Graduates of these programs can help people who are in a halfway house. Mr. Elliott misconstrued my words in the same way that President Obama has had his words misconstrued by his opponents. At the end of that community meeting on the halfway house people clapped and my opponent didn’t say that. I want to put my talent to good use. That is what it is all about.”
During his rebuttal Elliott again took aim at his opponent’s record.
“Usually after someone has served several years in the legislature you can point to something that they have accomplished,” Elliott said. “My opponent should be able to point to something that she has done that has been beneficial to UAPB.”
Elliott mentioned Act 570, state legislation to address the issue of prison overcrowding that he co-sponsored and was passed last year, saying it had nothing to do with halfway houses.
Closing remarks
Each candidate had three minutes for closing remarks with Flowers going first.
“The act my opponent is referring to is about prison reform,” Flowers said. “It is 164 pages long and changes things including giving the Department of Community Corrections the ability to have more power over people who are incarcerated. These people are somebody’s mother, somebody’s father, somebody’s sister, somebody’s brother. We would be better as a community if we helped them transition back into the community. Pine Bluff is ill-prepared to deal with people who have committed certain crimes prior to being paroled. UAPB students who have studied criminal justice and addiction studies could provide support to these people.”
Elliott used his closing remarks to paint a clear distinction between himself and Flowers.
“My opponent does support halfway houses,” Elliott said. “An article by the Democrat-Gazette said that the proposed halfway house in Pine Bluff would house parolees who are high-level sex offenders and other high-level offenders who are not allowed to parole out to their families. An influx of these types of parolees will not help our community. We are elected to protect children. Not to bring in more of the wrong element. Pine Bluff should not be used as a dumping ground. We need jobs here and not just from the Department of Corrections. The truth will prevail.”