Rick Crawford (politician)

Rick Crawford
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Robert Marion Berry
Personal details
Born Eric Alan Crawford
(1966-01-22) January 22, 1966
Homestead Air Force Base, Florida
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Stacy Crawford
Children Two children
Residence Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S.
Alma mater Arkansas State University (B.A.)
Profession Businessman
Broadcasting
Soldier
Religion Southern Baptist[1]
Website Rick Crawford for Congress
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1985-1989
Rank Sergeant

Eric Alan "Rick" Crawford (born January 22, 1966)[2] is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 1st congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. Before he was elected to Congress, Crawford was a radio announcer, businessman and a soldier in the U.S. Army.

Early life and education

Crawford was born in the Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, the son of Ruth Anne and Donny J. "Don" Crawford.[3] Crawford grew up in a military family; his father served in the United States Air Force. He graduated from Alvirne High School in Hudson, New Hampshire. He enlisted in the Army, where he served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician for four years,[4] and advanced to the rank of Sergeant. After his service, he attended Arkansas State University and graduated in 1996 with a B.S. in Agriculture Business and Economics.

Radio career

He has been a news anchor and agri-reporter on KAIT-TV in Jonesboro and Farm Director on KFIN-FM. He owned and operated the AgWatch Network, a farm news network heard on 39 radio stations in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky.[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

Crawford chose to run for Arkansas' 1st congressional district after Democratic incumbent U.S. Congressman Marion Berry decided to retire. Crawford received the endorsements of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson, and former Congressman Ed Bethune.[6] He won the Republican primary, defeating Princella Smith 72%–28%.[7] He won the general election, defeating Berry's chief of staff Chad Causey 52%–43%.[8]

2012

Crawford won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic prosecutor, Scott Ellington, 56%–39%.[9]

2014

Crawford won re=election to a third term, defeating Heber Springs Mayor Jackie McPherson 63%-33%.[10]

Tenure

Crawford was sworn into office on January 5, 2011, as a member of the 112th Congress. He is the first Republican to represent his district in Washington since Reconstruction. The last Republican to represent the district was Asa Hodges who departed the seat on March 3, 1875.[11] Crawford is a member of the Republican Study Committee.[12]

Crawford voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and to return federal non-security spending to fiscal year 2008 levels. He also voted to terminate taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions.[13]

In 2010, Crawford signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.[14]

Legislation

On January 18, 2013, Crawford introduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act (H.R. 311; 113th Congress) into the House.[15] The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to modify the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, which regulates oil discharges into navigable waters and adjoining shorelines.[16] The rule requires certain farmers to develop an oil spill prevention plan that is certified by a professional engineer and may require them to make infrastructure changes.[16] According to supporters, this bill would "ease the burden placed on farmers and ranchers" by making it easier for smaller farms to self-certify and raising the level of storage capacity under which farms are exempted.[17]

Committee assignments

Personal life

Crawford and his wife, Stacy, live in Jonesboro with their children. He attends Nettleton Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist church in Jonesboro.[1]

Electoral history

Arkansas 1st Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford 14,461 71.79
Republican Princella Smith 5,682 28.21
Arkansas 1st Congressional District Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford 93,224 51.79
Democratic Chad Causey 78,267 43.48
Green Ken Adler 8,320 4.62
Write-ins Write-ins 205 0.11
Arkansas 1st Congressional District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford (inc.) 138,800 56.23
Democratic Scott Ellington 96,601 39.13
Libertarian Jessica Paxton 6,427 2.60
Green Jacob Holloway 5,015 2.03
Arkansas 1st Congressional District Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford (inc.) 124,139 63.25
Democratic Jackie McPherson 63,555 32.38
Libertarian Brian Scott Willhite 8,562 4.36

References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Marion Berry		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's 1st congressional district
January 3, 2011 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
David Cicilline
D-Rhode Island 		United States Representatives by seniority
236th 		Succeeded by
Jeff Denham
R-California
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