By State Sen. James Sturch
Politics has long been a passion of mine, so it was a dream come true when I was first elected to the legislature eight years ago. I was excited to begin my work in public service. I was humbled by the opportunity to be able to make a difference in the lives of others.
A few weeks after being elected, I made the trip to the state Capitol in Little Rock, where I learned firsthand that the role of a legislator was more expansive than one learns about in civics class. Beyond studying the various bills with proposed changes to the law, one also had to study current law to understand the context and the needs of the present. Beyond focusing on legislation, a legislator also has to respond to constituent requests and help them with a variety of needs they might have. All at the same time, a legislator manages a demanding schedule that is full of individual appointments, events, and speeches that he or she must fulfill.
One of the things I will always cherish are the relationships I have made with people all across our state. I was privileged to be able to work with some of the most genuine public servants. There were several individuals who I truly came to admire and am honored to call them my friends. Does that mean we always agreed? Of course not. But one great thing about our system of government is that even when though we disagreed on the floor of the House or in the Senate chamber, we maintained respect for each other. We became friends because we truly enjoyed the back-and-forth of debate and the competition of ideas.
During my legislative career, I have witnessed a trend that concerns me and other observers of current events. This trend has intensified since I was elected to the state Senate in 2018. Politics has become more mean-spirited than ever before. Too many politicians bring a “win at all costs” attitude to elections and to legislative debates. If someone disagrees with them, they demonize that person. Their extremism generates a lot of publicity, but at a cost to society. This extremist trend in public affairs is unhealthy because the American legislative process, by its very nature, is about resolving complex issues among competing interests.
We will always have disagreements in politics. But to disagree with someone should not make them a bitter enemy. Legislative veterans understand this. They know that today they may disagree with a colleague on education policy, but tomorrow they will be firm allies on campaign finance reform. I remain hopeful that more of our leaders will seek to be statesmen. We need leaders who lead by example, who lead by conviction, and who have a common respect for their fellow man.
Fortunately, the citizens of Arkansas can discern which individuals they send to the Capitol truly care about doing their job and who are there to spew partisan rancor and play political stunts. I still have faith that the people will ultimately demand change for the better. There is a young generation of Arkansans who are depending on it. Representing the people as both a State Representative and State Senator has been a humbling experience, a true honor, and a sincere privilege, because the people of Arkansas are the true makers of history.
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