Stephen Meeks

Stephen A. Meeks (born October 30, 1970),^[1] is a computer technician from Greenbrier in Faulkner County in central Arkansas, who is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. His District 67, which he has represented since 2013, includes parts of Faulkner, Conway, and Van Buren counties. From 2011 to 2013, he represented House District 47.^[2]

Meeks' brother, David Meeks, is a Republican representative from House District 70.

Background

Meeks was reared in rural Springhill in Faulkner County, Arkansas.^[3] In 1988, he graduated from Greenbrier High School in Greenbrier in Faulkner County. Thereafter, he relocated to Florida where his father was transferred by an employer.^[3]

In 1997, Meeks obtained an Associate of Science degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Florida State College at Jacksonville, then known as Florida Community College in Jacksonville. Two years later he procured an Associate of Arts from the same institution. A former educator, Meeks taught from 1997 to 2003 at Florida Community College and from 2001 to 2003 at Baymeadows Baptist Day School in Jacksonville, simultaneous with his duties at Florida Community College.^[1]

While in Jacksonville, Meeks was the president of the Northeast Florida Astronomical Society. A military veteran, he maintains a strong interest in astronomy, space flight, and amateur radio. Hed earns his livelihood as a computer technologist. Meeks and his wife, the former Jennifer Lynne Brickey, a Florida native, are members of Faith Baptist Church, a theologically conservative congregation in Greenbrier.^[2] They have one daughter, Rebecca.^[1]

From 1987 to 1993, Meeks was a member of the United States Army Reserve.^[1] He was a combat engineer and a cargo specialist.^[3]

Political life

In 2010, Meeks was elected in House District 47, having unseated the incumbent Democrat Eddie Hawkins, 4,841 to 3,921.^[4] In 2012, District 47 was reconfigured to include Jackson and White counties. Meeks won his second term in revised District 67 by defeating the Democrat Sam Lane, 8,002 to 3,003.^[5]

Meeks serves on these legislative committees: (1) House Revenue and Taxation, (2) House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development, (3) Public Health, Welfare and Labor, and (3) Joint Budget.^[1][2]

Representative Meeks in 2013 in District 67 co-sponsored legislation to amend state income tax rates. He voted to place a spending cap on the state budget, but the measure failed in the House by two votes. He joined the required majority to override the vetoes of Democratic Governor Mike Beebe to enact legislation to require photo identification for casting a ballot in Arkansas and to ban abortion after twenty weeks of gestation He further supported related pro-life legislation to ban abortion whenever fetal heartbeat is detected, to forbid the inclusion of abortion in the state insurance exchange, and to make the death of an unborn child a felony in certain cases. He voted to empower university officials to carry weapons for campus safety. He did not vote on a proposal to make the office of prosecuting attorney in Arkansas nonpartisan. He supported the bill, signed by Governor Beebe, to permit the sale of up to five hundred gallons per month of unpasteurized whole milk directly from the farm to consumers.^[6]

In 2011, Meeks in District 47 co-sponsored legislation to permit weapons in religious institutions. He opposed a dress code for public schools. He backed curriculum standards for biblical instruction in public schools. He co-sponsored the Capital Gains Reduction Act. He voted to permit driver's license tests only in the English language. Meeks voted against legislation to prohibit cell phone use in school zones. He voted to reduce uility rates on manufacturers as a means of attracting industry to Arkansas. Meeks abstained on the congressional redistricting bill.^[6]

Meeks is eligible to seek a third term in the House in 2014, after which time if successful he will be term-limited.^[1]

References