William Tracy Arnold
William Tracy Arnold | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 3rd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | William J. McCoy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Tracy Arnold February 14, 1969 Prentiss County, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Booneville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Life International Bible Institute and Seminary (DD) |
| Occupation | Pastor |
William Tracy Arnold (born February 14, 1969) is an American politician, representing the 3rd district in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2012.
Early life and education
[edit]Arnold was born in Prentiss County, Mississippi on February 14, 1969, where he attended New Site High School.[1] In 1998, he received a Doctorate of Divinity in Theology from the Life International Bible Institute and Seminary.[2] He serves as a pastor for The Vineyard Church, which is located in the 3rd district in Booneville.[3]
Political career
[edit]In 2007, Arnold ran an unsuccessful campaign against then-incumbent Representative and Speaker of the House William J. McCoy, receiving 38% of the vote.[4]
2011–2015
[edit]In 2011, Arnold ran for election to the 3rd district following news that McCoy would not seek reelection.[5] He ran unopposed in the Republican primary and ran against Democratic contender Tommy Cadle, where he won in the general election with 53% of the vote to Cadle's 47%.[6] He assumed office on January 3, 2012.[6]
Running as a Republican, Arnold flipped the seat, as McCoy was a Democrat.[4]
2015–2019
[edit]For the 2015 election, Arnold faced Democratic candidate Lauren Childers.[7] Childers, a daughter of former United States House Representative Travis Childers, won in the Democratic primary with 68.5% of the vote.[6][7] She lost in the general election, receiving around 43% of the vote.[6]
In 2016, Arnold was a cosponsor of the controversial Religious Liberty Accommodations Act.[8][9]
As of 2021, Mississippi is the only state that doesn't have a law supporting equal pay.[10] Arnold, who is a supporter of pay equity, spearheaded a bill to establish equal pay for equal work as a state law in 2018.[3][11] The bill failed to garner enough support for it to pass.[11]
2019–present
[edit]Arnold held his seat against Democratic contender Janis Patterson, winning nearly 78% of the vote.[6][12]
In 2020, Arnold sponsored two bills to restrict Internet pornography, with his reasoning being to protect children and to help stop human trafficking.[13] Both bills died in committee.[14][15]
For the 2021 session, Arnold chairs the Interstate Corporation committee and is a member on the following others: Agriculture, Appropriations, Banking and Financial Services, Energy, Insurance, and Transportation.[16]
Political positions
[edit]During his election campaign in 2011, Arnold voiced support for additional funding for education.[4]
In 2020, Arnold voted no to a resolution on changing the Mississippi State flag.[17]
Arnold describes himself as "staunchly pro-life".[3] He supports the National Rifle Association of America and Farm Bureau.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Arnold is married and has two children.[1][18] He and his family are of Christian faith.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "William Tracy Arnold". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Mississippi House of Representatives. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Tracy Arnold's Biography". justfacts.votesmart.org. Vote Smart. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c Arnold, Tracy (January 31, 2018). "TRACY ARNOLD: The pro-life, faith-based case for pay equity". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c Harrison, Bobby (October 30, 2011). "Arnold, Cadle compete to succeed Billy McCoy". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Pettus, Emily Wagster (September 18, 2012). "McCoy Misses People, Not Politics". WCBI-TV. Associated Press. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "William Arnold - Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Harrison, Bobby (October 23, 2015). "Familiar name squares off against incumbent in House District 3". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "HB 1523 - History of Actions/Background". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Mississippi House of Representatives. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Outrageous "Religious Liberty Accommodations Act" Advances in Mississippi" (Press release). Jackson, Mississippi: Human Rights Campaign. February 18, 2016.
- ^ a b Fowler, Sarah (January 20, 2018). "Will an equal pay bill ever pass in Mississippi?". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Franzier, Desare (January 31, 2018). "Equal Pay for Equal Work Fails to Garner Enough Support". Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Sappington, Brant (November 6, 2019). "Arnold holds House seat". Daily Corinthian. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Ulmer, Sarah (February 21, 2020). "Mississippi could ban internet porn". Y'all Politics. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "HB 1116 - History of Actions/Background". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Mississippi House of Representatives. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "HB 1120 - History of Actions/Background". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Mississippi House of Representatives. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "2021 House of Representatives Committee Listing". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Mississippi House of Representatives. 2021. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Bologna, Giacomo (June 27, 2020). "Here is how each lawmaker voted on the Mississippi state flag resolution". Clarion Ledger. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Mississippi House of Representative District 3 Candidate Tracy Arnold". williamtracyarnold.com. Retrieved March 18, 2021.