Johnny Key (politician)

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Johnny R. Key
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 17th district
In office
2013–2015
Preceded by James Luker
Succeeded by Scott Flippo
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 1st district
In office
2009–2013
Preceded by Shawn Womack
Succeeded by Bart Hester
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 81st district
In office
2003–2009
Succeeded by Karen Hopper
Personal details
Born (1968-12-09) December 9, 1968 (age 55)
Arkadelphia, Clark County
Arkansas, USA
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Shannon L. Key
Children Ryan and Rachel Key
Residence Mountain Home
Baxter County, Arkansas
Alma mater University of Arkansas
Occupation Engineer and businessman
Religion Assemblies of God

Johnny R. Key (born December 9, 1968), is an engineer and the owner of two outlets of the Open Arms Learning Center, Inc., in Mountain Home in Baxter County in northwestern Arkansas, who is a Republican former member of the Arkansas State Senate. His District 17 includes all of Baxter and Marion counties and the eastern half of Boone County.

Key was term-limited and ineligible to seek reelection in 2014. He was named education commissioner in the administration of Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Background

A native of Arkadelphia in South Arkansas, Key graduated in 1986 from rural Gurdon High School in Gurdon in Clark County.[1] In 1991, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.[2]

Key and his wife, Shannon L. Key (born 1970), have two children, Ryan and Rachel. He is affiliated with the Assemblies of God Church. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Lions International.[2]

Political life

From 1997 to 2002, Key was a justice of the peace of the Baxter County Quorum Court. In 2002, he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and served three two-year terms in the chamber, including a stint as Minority Leader. In 2008, Key was elected without opposition in the general election to the State Senate from District 1; he was switched to his current revised District 17 with the 2012 election, when he again ran unopposed. His current term expires in 2015.[3]

Key serves on the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Joint Retirement and Social Security Committee, and the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee. His other Senate committee assignments include (1) Budget, (2) Education, (3) Efficiency, and (4) Insurance & Commerce.[1][2] The conservative Key has sponsored legislation to cut in half the sales taxes on groceries and to exempt retirement and pension income from state income taxes.[1]

As a civic leader, Key has worked with the interest group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, to reduce drinking by teenagers. He successfully supported legislation to create drug courts.[1] In 2011, the Arkansas Pharmacists Association presented Key with the Guy Newcomb Award, named for the late pharmacy leader from Osceola, who was the 1968 Republican nominee for Arkansas' 1st congressional district seat.[4]

Key opposes abortion, having voted to ban the practice after twenty weeks of gestation or whenever fetal heartbeat is determined. He opposes allowing abortion to be covered in health-care plans.[5] In 2008, while in the House, he unsuccessfully opposed an increase in natural gas taxes. In 2011, he opposed a bill to ban cell phones in school zones.[5]

In 2013, Key joined the Senate majority to amend state income tax rates and to reduce the amount of weekly unemployment compensation benefits. He co-sponsored legislation to test recipients of unemployment compensation for illegal use of narcotics. He voted successfully to override Governor Mike Beebe's veto of a bill to require photo identification when one casts a ballot in Arkansas. He voted against legislation to make the office of prosecuting attorney in Arkansas nonpartisan. He co-sponsored legislation to permit handguns to be carried on church properties and to forbid the release of information on the holders of concealed carry permits. He voted to allow university staff to carry concealed weapons. Key supported legislation to permit the sale of unpasteurized whole milk within his state.[5]

References

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Preceded by
James Luker
Arkansas State Senator from District 17 (Baxter, Marion, and Boone counties)

Johnny R. Key
2013–2015

Succeeded by
Scott Flippo
Preceded by Arkansas State Senator from District 1 (including Baxter County)

Johnny R. Key
2009–2013

Succeeded by
Bart Hester
Preceded by
Missing
Arkansas State Representative from District 81 (Baxter County)

Johnny R. Key
2003–2009

Succeeded by
Karen Hopper