Ken Ferguson (politician)

Kenneth Bernard Ferguson, Sr. (born c. 1951)[1] is a Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 16, which includes Jefferson and Lincoln counties in the southeastern portion of the state. Ferguson has held his legislative seat since January 2015.[2]

Kenneth Bernard Ferguson, Sr.
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 16th district
Assumed office
January 2015
Preceded byJames Word
Personal details
Bornc. 1951
Place of birth missing
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Cassandra Ferguson
ChildrenFour children
ResidencePine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.

Ferguson, who is African-American, was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and was elected in 2014 in House District 16 to succeed the term-limited African-American Democrat James Word, also of Pine Bluff. He entered politics as a retiree. In the primary, Ferguson led two opponents but was forced into a runoff election with intra-party rival, Win Trafford (born c. 1972), also of Pine Bluff, whom he led by nineteen votes. In the second round of balloting with a low turnout, Ferguson prevailed 1,170 (54.5 percent) to 978 (45.5 percent). Ferguson faced no opposition in the November 4 general election.[3]

Representative Ferguson holds these committee assignments: (1) Revenue and Tax Committee and (2) City, County, and Local Affairs.[2] In February 2015, Ferguson was one of twenty legislators who opposed House Bill 1228, authored by Republican Bob Ballinger of Carroll County in northwestern Arkansas,[4] which sought to prohibit government from imposing a burden on the free exercise of religion.[5] Representative Camille Bennett, a Democrat from Lonoke, called for a reworking of the legislation.[6] She claimed that the Ballinger bill would establish a "type of religious litmus test" which could impact nearly any law under consideration by the legislature.[4] The measure was subsequently passed by a large margin in the House and signed into law in revised form, SB 975, by Governor Asa Hutchinson.[7]

Ferguson is a former resident of Roanoke in Denton County in North Texas, dates unavailable.[1]

References
  1. "Kenneth B. Ferguson". intelius.com. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  2. "Kenneth B. Ferguson". arkansashouse.org. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  3. "District 16". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  4. "Opponents of Religious Freedom Bill Point Out Law Differences, Possible Unintended Consequences". Little Rock, Arkansas: Fox Channel 16. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  5. "HB 1228". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  6. "Indiana, Arkansas try to stem religious objections uproar". Atlantic Broadband. April 3, 2015. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  7. "Gov. Hutchinson signs revised religious freedom bill; HB 1228 recalled". Little Rock: KTHV-TV. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
Preceded by
James Word		 Arkansas State Representative for
District 16 (Jefferson and Lincoln counties)

Kenneth Bernard Ferguson, Sr.
2015–

Succeeded by
Incumbent
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