David Wyatt (politician)

David Wayne Wyatt (June 18, 1949 – January 12, 2015)[2] was an American farmer, judge, and politician from Batesville, Arkansas, who served as a Democrat in the Arkansas Senate for District 19 from January 14, 2013, to January 2015. Wyatt previously served in Senate District 12 from 2009 to 2013 and in the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 72 from 2005 to 2009.

David Wayne Wyatt
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 19th[1] district
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 2015
Preceded byBill Sample
Succeeded byLinda Collins-Smith
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 12th district
In office
January 2009 – January 14, 2013
Preceded byJack Critcher
Succeeded byBruce Maloch
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
In office
January 2005 – January 2009
Preceded byChaney Taylor
Succeeded byJames McLean
Personal details
Born(1949-06-18)June 18, 1949
DiedJanuary 12, 2015(2015-01-12) (aged 65)
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Batesville, Arkansas, USA

Political career

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A farmer and rancher and a judge for two decades in Independence County,[3][4] Wyatt first stood as a candidate in 2004 for House District 72, after Chaney Taylor left the legislature. He won the May 18, 2004 Democratic primary with 4,328 votes (77.5%)[5] and was unopposed in the November 2, 2004 general election. In 2006 he was again unopposed in both the Democratic primary and the general election.

In 2008 he ran for the Arkansas Senate in District 12 after Jack Critcher left the legislature, leaving the seat open. He was unopposed in both the May 20, 2008 Democratic primary and the November 4, 2008 general election.

In 2012 Wyatt was redistricted to District 19, with Senator Bill Sample redistricted to District 14; Wyatt was unopposed in the May 22, 2012 Democratic primary[6] and was elected in the November 6 general election, with 15,442 votes (51.2 percent) against Republican nominee Linda Collins-Smith,[7] who two years later was elected as his Senate successor after he declined to seek reelection.

Personal life and death

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Wyatt and his wife, Deborah, had two children.[3] After undergoing cancer treatment, he died on January 12, 2015, aged 65.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Senator David Wyatt (D)". Little Rock, Arkansas: Arkansas General Assembly. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "David Wyatt's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Biography of the Honorable David Wyatt, Arkansas State Senator" (PDF). Arkansas State Legislature. 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Max Brantley (January 12, 2015). "Former Sen. David Wyatt dies at 65". Arkansas Times.
  5. ^ "2004 Preferential Primary". Little Rock, Arkansas: Secretary of State of Arkansas. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  6. ^ "Arkansas State Primary Election May 22, 2012". Little Rock, Arkansas: Secretary of State of Arkansas. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "Arkansas State General Election November 6, 2012". Little Rock, Arkansas: Secretary of State of Arkansas. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
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