Matthew Shepherd

Matthew Joseph Shepherd (born February 21, 1976)[1] is an attorney from his native El Dorado, Arkansas, who is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 6, which includes western Union County. He was elected in the 2010, 2012, and 2014 legislative races.[2]

This article is about the Arkansas politician. For the Wyoming murder victim, see Matthew Shepard. For the rugby player, see Matthew Shepherd (rugby).
Matthew Shepherd
Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives
Assumed office
June 15, 2018
Preceded byJeremy Gillam
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 6th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2011
Preceded byJohn Lowery
Personal details
Born
Matthew Joseph Shepherd

(1976-02-21) February 21, 1976
El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Aile Shepherd
Children3
EducationOuachita Baptist University (BA)
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (JD)

Upon the resignation of Speaker Jeremy Gillam in June of 2018, he was elected Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives for the 91st General Assembly. He was re-elected in January 2019 to serve as Speaker of the 92nd General Assembly.

In May of 2020, Arkansas House members elected him as Speaker-designate for the 93rd General Assembly.

In 2010, Shepherd claimed the District 6 seat by defeating Democrat Ken Bridges, 4,780 to 2,074.[3] In 2012, still in the reorganized District 6, Shepherd won a second term, defeating Independent Peter Cyphers, 10,051 to 2,149.[4]

Biography

Shepherd graduated in 1998 from the Southern Baptist-affiliated Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia in South Arkansas. In 2001, he received the Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville. Shepherd is a practising attorney at El Dorado-based law firm Shepherd and Shepherd.[5]

Personal life

Shepherd is married and has three children.[6]

See also

References
  1. 91st Arkansas General Assembly Legislative Directory
  2. "Matthew J. Shepherd, R-6". Arkansashouse.org. Archived from the original on 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  3. "House District 6 election returns, 2010". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  4. "House District 6 election returns, 2012". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  5. Hardy, Benjamin. "Shepherd becomes House Speaker; defers ethics rule change questions". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  6. "Representative Matthew Shepherd's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
Arkansas House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Lowery		 Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
for the 6th district
2011–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jeremy Gillam		 Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives
2018–present		 Incumbent


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