Bruce Holland (American politician)

Franklin Bruce Holland (born June 11, 1968) is a self-employed cattleman and a Republican former member of the Arkansas State Senate from District 9 in his native Sebastian County in western Arkansas.

Franklin Bruce Holland
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 6th district
In office 2011–2013
Preceded by	Ed Wilkinson
Succeeded by	Gary Stubblefield
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 9th district
In office 2013 – January 2015
Preceded by	Kim Hendren
Succeeded by	Terry Rice
Personal details
Born	June 11, 1968 Fort Smith, Sebastian County Arkansas, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Single
Residence	Greenwood, Sebastian County
Alma mater	University of Arkansas
Occupation	Businessman: Cattle

Background

Born in Fort Smith, Holland attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Holland is United Methodist. He is a member of the National Rifle Association, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Sebastian County Historical Society, and the Sebastian County Farm Bureau. He is single and resides in Greenwood in Sebastian County.[1]

Political life

Holland was elected to the Senate from District 6 in 2010 for a two-year term when he defeated the Democrat John Paul Wells, a former state representative from Paris in Logan County, 14,838 to 9,602.[2] Shifted to the District 9 seat vacated by the term-limited Republican Kim Hendren in 2012, Holland defeated Rick Green in the Republican primary, 2,438 to 2,201. He then prevailed over the Democrat Tracy Pennartz, 13,414 to 10,472, in the general election. His current two-year term expires at the end of 2014.[3]

Holland is the Senate assistant president pro tempore for the Third District, a post also held by Kim Hendren prior to 2013. He is the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, and a member of the Budget, Education, Energy, and the Academic Facilities Oversight committees.[1] Holland opposes abortion, having voted to ban the practice after twenty weeks of gestation or whenever fetal heartbeat is determined. He voted to allow university staff to carry concealed weapons.[4]

In 2013, Holland joined the Senate majority to reduce the amount of weekly unemployment compensation benefits and to test the recipients for illegal use of narcotics. He voted successfully to override Governor Mike Beebe's veto of a bill to require photo identification when a voter casts a ballot in Arkansas. He voted against successful legislation to make the office of prosecuting attorney in Arkansas nonpartisan. Holland voted to allow handguns to be carried on church properties and sponsored a bill to forbid the release of information on the holders of concealed carry permits.[4]

In the Republican primary election held on May 20, 2014, Holland was unseated for his party's nomination by the outgoing District 21 State Representative Terry Rice of Waldron. Rice prevailed with 3,457 votes (56 percent) to Holland's 2,710 (44 percent).[5] The two differ over the private option version of Medicaid expansion.[6]

Since July 2016, Holland has served as Executive Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (merged into the Arkansas Department of Agriculture in 2019). That commission establishes policy and makes funding and regulatory decisions relative to soil conservation, nutrient management, water rights, dam safety, and water resources planning and development.

References

1. "Bruce Holland's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
2. "Arkansas State Senate elections, 2010". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
3. "Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
4. "Bruce Holland's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
5. "Arkansas Primary Election Results, May 20, 2014". KATV. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
6. "Max Brantley, "The Republican victory in Jonesboro proves Obama's enduring value in Arkansas"". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 15, 2014.