James Sturch

James Marvin Sturch (born c. 1990)^[1] is an office manager from Batesville, Arkansas, who is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 63 in his native Independence County in the northeastern portion of his state.^[2]

Sturch is named for a grandfather, James White Sturch, a veteran of the United States Navy.^[3]He received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, with secondary education certification, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he was inducted into the Pi Sigma Alpha honor society. After working briefly in the classroom, he became an office manager. He is studying for the Master of Public Administration degree from UALR. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist denomination.^[2]

In 2014, Sturch sought the District 63 seat in the Arkansas House vacated by the Democrat incumbent James McLean. He defeated Anne Moore, 1,050 to 646, to win the Republican nomination for the position. Sturch then defeated another Democrat, Lackey Gene Moody (born c. 1941), also of Batesville, 5,343 to 3,386. Republicans dominated the state races in Arkansas in 2014.^[4] Sturch is nearly a half-century younger than his Democratic opponent.

Representative Sturch is assigned to the House committees on: (1) Rules, (2) Aging, Children and Youth Legislative and Military Affairs, and (3) Public Transportation.^[2] In February 2015, Sturch joined dozens of his fellow Republicans and two Democrats in co-sponsoring legislation submitted by Representative Lane Jean of Magnolia, to reduce unemployment compensation benefits. The measure was promptly signed into law by Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson.^[5]

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