Megan Godfrey
Megan Cardwell Godfrey (born December 5, 1983) is an American educator and politician serving in the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 89th district.
Megan Godfrey | |
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Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 89th district | |
Assumed office January 14, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jeff Williams |
Personal details | |
Born | Megan Cardwell December 5, 1983 |
Political party | Democrat |
Spouse(s) | Daniel Godfrey (m. 2008) |
Children | Elizabeth "Zuzu", Jude |
Education | Loyola Marymount University (MA) University of Arkansas (BA cum laude) |
Early life
Megan Cardwell was born to parents Cindy and Gary Cardwell on December 5, 1983.[1] The family moved to Springdale, Arkansas when she was 14. After graduating from Springdale High School, Cardwell attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, graduating with a major in Spanish and minor in Latin American studies. She was active in Associated Student Government[2] and was named homecoming queen at the University of Arkansas in 2004.[3]
Career
Cardwell joined Teach for America after graduation and taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District until 2008. During this time, she also earned a master's in early childhood education from Loyola Marymount University.[4]
In 2008, Cardwell married Daniel Godfrey of Springdale[1] and returned to Springdale to raise her family. She worked at Springdale Public Schools as a teacher and ESL curriculum specialist.[5] Springdale is the largest school district in Arkansas and often has the highest proportion of ESL-students in the state, reflecting the diverse demographics of Springdale and the 89th district.[6] After nine years in Springdale, Godfrey took a position with Fayetteville Public Schools as Co-Director of English Language Learning.
Politics
In the general election on November 6, 2018, Godfrey narrowly unseated Republican State Rep. Jeff Williams by a final vote of 1,857 to 1,827[7] (50.5%-49.5%).[8] She was the first Democrat elected to the House from Springdale since Louis McJunkin, who retired in 1999.[9]
As a member of the 92nd Arkansas General Assembly, Godfrey was in the minority as a Democrat. At the start of the session, Republicans had maintained a state government trifecta since 2015. Godfrey's signature legislation in 2019 was lead sponsor of Act 837, which grants nursing licenses to qualified nursing school students with a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.[9][10]
She announced plans to run for reelection in June 2019.[9] Unopposed in the Democratic primary, Godfrey won a second term in November 2020 against Republican challenger Jed Duggar, a son of former state representative Jim Bob Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting fame.[11]
See also
- Education portal
- Politics portal
- United States portal
References
- "Cardwell-Godfrey". The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas. Springdale. June 28, 2008. ISSN 1080-952X. OCLC 31943926. Retrieved March 24, 2020 – via NewsBank.
- Scorse, Yvette (October 27, 2004). "U. Arkansas students vote in mock election". The Arkansas Traveler. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas. OCLC 891087545.
- Staff of The Arkansas Traveler (October 22, 2004). "UA names homecoming court" (PDF). The Arkansas Traveler. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas. OCLC 891087545. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- Talk Business & Politics staff (August 18, 2019). "Forty Under 40: Rep. Megan Godfrey". Forty under 40 2019. Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- Thompson, Doug (February 28, 2018). "Democrat enters Springdale House race". Northwest Arkansas Times. Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. ISSN 1066-3355. OCLC 18117496. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- Bernet, Brenda (July 31, 2015). "Springdale, Rogers learn new strategies for helping English learners". Northwest Arkansas Times. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- "Godfrey unseats Williams for House District 89". Arkansas Online. 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
- "Arkansas Election Results". The New York Times. 2018-11-06. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
- Thompson, Doug (June 25, 2019). "Godfrey runs for second term". Northwest Arkansas Times. Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. ISSN 1066-3355. OCLC 18117496. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- Davis, Andy (March 8, 2019). "Bill on nursing licenses in DACA cases advances". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. 200 (111). Little Rock: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. pp. 1A, 3A. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- Thompson, Doug (November 5, 2019). "Duggar to challenge Godfrey in District 89". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. p. 11. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Jeff Williams |
Arkansas House of Representatives Representative for 89th District January 14, 2019 - Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |