Page 4 - 2016ReadersChoice

4 El Dorado NEWS-TIMES Readers’ Choice Awards Sunday, July 31, 2016 Shepherd named top public servant
Terrance Armstard/News-Times
Public Servant: State Representative Matthew Shepherd was chosen top public servant by News-Times readers.
State Representative Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, was named as the top public servant
during the recent El Dorado News- Times 2016 Readers Choice Awards.
“I have tried my best to serve the people of South Arkansas and make sure our voice is heard in Little Rock. The opportunity to serve as State Representative is humbling and to receive this additional recognition voted on by the people is a further reminder of the many Arkansans I represent and whose lives I am work- ing to improve,” Shepherd said after learning of the award.
Shepherd was elected in 2010 with almost 70 percent of the vote, re-elect- ed in 2012 with more than 80 percent of the vote and unopposed in 2014.
Shepherd’s accomplishments during his time in the House include serv- ing as lead sponsor of the Sales Tax Holiday legislation (House Bill 1369, Act 757 of 2011), which exempts certain items of clothing, school supplies and numerous other articles from sales tax during the first weekend of August. This year, the tax-free weekend will be held from 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 6 and end at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 7.
“I believe it (the sales tax holi- day) has been good for Arkansas,” Shepherd said just prior to the fourth year the bill was made into law in the state. This is the sixth year that sales tax-free back-to-school shopping weekends have been held in Arkansas.
Shepherd said prior to the passage of the bill, Arkansas residents were leaving the state to do their back-to- school shopping in bordering states where sales tax-free weekends had been approved years earlier by law- makers.
All states surrounding Arkansas – including Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Oklahoma
– have lured Arkansas shoppers for years with their tax-free back-to- school shopping weekends.
He has also served as lead sponsor of legislation reinstating the Capital Gains Tax Cut (House Bill 1402, Act 1173 of 2015); served as lead sponsor of legislation establishing the office of prosecuting attorney as a non-par- tisan office (House Bill 1855, Act 1110 of 2013); served as lead sponsor of legislation that aims to curb over-bur- densome government regulation by reforming the regulatory process to require state agencies to consider the fiscal impact on individuals and busi- nesses when implementing new or revised rules (House Bill 2021, Act 759 of 2013) and served as lead sponsor of legislation to assist Lockheed Martin in its efforts to retain over 500 jobs and bring over 500 new jobs to South Arkansas (House Bill 1003, Act 10 of First Extraordinary Session of 2015).
Shepherd serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and is a member of the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, the Joint Budget Committee and co-chairman of the Legislative Criminal Justice Oversight Task Force. He was appointed to the Arkansas Code Revision Commission and the Public School Desegregation Lawsuit Resolution Task Force by the Speaker of the House Rep. Jeremy Gillam (R- Judsonia). Additionally, he was appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to its Special Task Force on Practice and Procedure in Civil Cases.
Shepherd is a graduate of El Dorado High School, earned a bach- elor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University and a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law. He and his wife, Allie, have three children.
Thanks for voting us one of the best plumbing contractors and plumbers in South Arkansas!
BEST
2016 Readers’
BEST
Ch ice PLUMBER Awards David Short
Mason
PLUMBING CONTRACTOR
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THANK YOU to all of our amazing customers for this awesome award! As many of you know, we are a fam- ily owned and operated business. We strive to take the very best care of you and treat you like part of our family.
Your support over the years means more to us than you could imag-
ine. Here’s to you and many more years of us serving all your plumbing needs! God bless you all!
David Short
Luke Short
Wendi Short Golmon
In God We Trust
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