Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Sept 10, 2024 – Arkansas Senator Dan Sullivan and senatorial candidate Erika Askeland debated school investments, diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships and more during NEA Political Animals’ 2024 Arkansas Senate District 20 debate Friday afternoon.

Arkansas State University Associate Professor and Department Chair of Political Science Dr. Cameron Wimpy lead the debate as the event moderator.

In his opening remarks, Senator Sullivan said a senator’s job was very simple.

“We set policy, we manage state finances, and we serve as an ambassador for our community. My goal today is simple, it is to inform you of what we have accomplished and what you can expect of me. It also will contrast with Erika’s position and what you can expect from her. Know that the state and local progressive Democrat caucus is targeting this race as a place to gain a foothold in our community,” he said, noting what he felt were some of the important policy issues, which included topics such as tax reductions for individuals and corporations, criminal justice reform, and educational reform.

In her opening statement, Askeland, a third-grade teacher at Brookland Elementary School, said she moved to Jonesboro in 1992 with her family. She graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1996 before giving birth to her oldest daughter. She attended A-State, where she graduated with a bachelor’s in education, and has been a public school teacher ever since.

“I have spent more than half of my life working with preschool children and have worked with third graders for the past 15 years in a school district that’s slightly outside of the lines of mine and Senator Sullivan’s Senate district,” she continued. “In this time, there have been many, many changes that I have seen that are now turning the wrong tide for public education. That is my main reason for running this race.”

After the opening statements, they started with the first of several questions, which asked what specific policies they would use to invest in public schools, protect children, and support families.

Askeland started with investments in public schools, noting Arkansas’ long history of public school education until the past few decades.

“In that time, we have had attacks on our teachers, claiming that they are indoctrinating their students, claiming that they are promoting things in the classroom that are just simply not true,” she stated. “We have had a reduction in the impact that we’re able to have due to the loss of funds and that’s being exacerbated by the LEARNS Act, which is 144 pages that was passed in less than three weeks.”

Askeland said she strongly believes in the ability for SROs (school resource officers) and buildings to protect their students, as well as wanting to combat food insecurity.

“I’m telling you, there’s nothing more important than putting food in kids’ bellies. When it comes down to it, feeding children is one of those things that when we do that, it lowers crime later in their lives. It also increases their reading levels by one to two grades once it’s implemented.”

Sullivan then spoke on school investment, saying sometimes taxes need to be raised in order to cover expenses.

“There’s a finite amount of money that we have and one of our primary responsibilities is finance,” Sullivan said. “So where do you get the money? I think my opponent has a post where she said she’s opposed to raising taxes at local levels for local things. You complain to your legislature that we need to get more money. Where do you get it from?”

Sullivan added that he was a 30-year educator who worked as a teacher, a coach, and a principal over the years.

“I’m the chair of the higher ed committee, and the Secretary of Education [Jacob Oliva] was here, and he gave us a packet of all the good things that are happening in the market. I hope you’ll go online and read some of that, because we’re doing a lot of fantastic things because of the LEARNS Act.”

Sullivan said public schools are fully funded despite Askeland’s claims to the contrary.

During Askeland’s rebuttal, she said Sullivan’s tax cuts benefit the top 5%, and the middle class was reaping little to no benefits.

“When we look at the funding for schools, the LEARNS Act actually does provide the school choice that you have promised and I do accept that,” she said. She also noted that, although she knew people in private schools and appreciated them, private schools can raise their tuition, and when that happens, they drain funds from 95% of the hungry children.

Fierce debate ensued when the candidates were asked their positions on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) scholarships.

Sullivan said, “Our goal is to treat everyone as a person, regardless of your DEI status. Our constitution says that everyone should be treated equally. That’s what DEI does not do. It provides preferential treatment to certain segments of people. You can disagree if you want.”

Askeland said she felt Sullivan needed to be reminded that he was representing District 20.

“You as a white man and as a representative, do not understand the entitlement that you have,” she said. “And myself as a white woman, I do, and I see people every single day that are telling me how they need these things to help their family survive. We deserve a representative that cares about them, and I am that.”

A taxpayer who lived within the Brookland School District asked Askeland, if elected, how she planned to coordinate teaching her classes at Brookland Elementary while still attending Capitol senate sessions, which occur during school hours.

Askeland replied that the Brookland School District building is in District 19, although she did realize that many parents and students lived in District 20.

“When it comes to this, I have been a consistent and loyal teacher to the district in which I’ve taught. For now, going into my 15th year, I am still in the classroom. And yes, I have taken the day off today with the absolute transparency of everyone that’s involved,” she stated. “Because of this being a new endeavor for me, because I have spent my life educating our youth, I am going to see how the spring session goes, and then I will determine from that point if I am adequately able to provide the education that I need for my students while serving in the legislature.”

Sullivan then noted that when he ran for office the first time, he worked for a private company. He said he went to the CEO and asked how his running for office would affect the company because they served about 400 kids a day with significant disabilities.

“I knew that my presence or absence could have a significant effect on those students, those children,” he recalled. “We talked that through, we came up with a workable solution that would allow me to serve the company and also serve in the legislature.”

He then noted another bill the legislature had passed which banned explicit books.

“This is in the LEARNS Act. You can’t have explicit books. Teach gender ideology in the classroom. That affects us. Are you going to teach that in the third grade?” he asked Askeland. “The gender ideology and affirming care that we pass in the legislature, those are important issues that affect the kids in our districts. It’s important that the parents and the staff know what your positions are on that.”

Askeland replied, “I really didn’t plan on going there with you today. But I will say that when you say that you’re doing what’s best for the children, not for Dan, your legislation proves differently, and I’ll leave it at that, because I am going to respect myself in the way that I do this.”

Another question, which came from a scientist who noted some concern with some of the opening statements. He mentioned issues such as science, vaccines, masking and trans rights; and asked why lawmakers relied on feelings rather than facts when making legislation.

Sullivan spoke about the lingering effects of COVID and how pandemic restrictions, such as masks, vaccines, closing of schools, had not helped.

“Gov. Sanders has said she’s not going to do that again,” he continued. “Ask the people that lost their jobs. Ask the students who were seniors in school who couldn’t participate in their activities and should have. Many states used a different model. Arkansas picked a very narrow model and followed that.”

The library then came up as he noted the American Library Association and the Arkansas Library Association say no material should be restricted, regardless of its sexual implications.

“That’s why it’s in the LEARNS Act to prevent that,” he said. “That’s not emotional. That’s policy. That’s what our policy says, and that’s what we do.”

Some other questions included:

  • Should you, as a teacher, tell parents if their third-grade child, your student, is requesting to use different names or pronouns that are inconsistent with the gender indicated on the birth certificate that the parent registered at the school?
  • What values you both ascribe to freedom, especially when it comes to women and minorities?
  • In reference to tax reductions, specifically the reduction in the library millage, did the candidates support that and when does the government ever have too much money?
  • What were the candidates’ visions for the future of Arkansas with respect to how we handle taxes and where money goes?
  • Why does someone pay taxes that benefit other school districts if they’re not in the county but still within city limits of other schools?

The deadline to register to vote in the General Election is October 7, early voting begins October 21, followed by the General Election on November 5.

The next NEA Political Animals event will be on October 18, featuring all four candidates for Jonesboro Mayor.

Visit the NEA Political Animals Facebook page for more upcoming events.