Bruce Cozart
Bruce Alan Cozart (born October 3, 1955)[1] is an American businessman and politician, who is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 24 in Garland County.
Bruce Alan Cozart | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 24th district | |
| Assumed office March 2011 | |
| Preceded by | R. D. Saunders |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 3, 1955 Pearcy, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Deborah L. Cozart |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Lake Hamilton High School |
| Occupation | Building contractor |
Background
A native of Pearcy in Garland County, he has since 1977 owned Bruce Cozart Construction, Inc., which engages in both commercial and residential buildings. A graduate of Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy, Cozart served from 1991 to 2001 on the Lake Hamilton School Board, of which he is also a past president. He is affiliated with the Arkansas and Hot Springs home builders associations and Habitat for Humanity.[1]
Cozart left the First Assembly of God Church in Hot Springs[2] in 2016. For the time being, he and his family have decided to attend Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. However, they are not members. He and his wife, Deborah L. Cozart (also born 1955), have two sons, Trevor H. Cozart (born 1979) and Cody Z. Cozart.[1][2]
Political life
In the 2010 general election for House District 24, Republican candidate Keith Crass, an accountant from Hot Springs, died at the age of fifty-one of a heart attack during the campaign.[3] Crass nevertheless defeated the Democratic candidate, Garland County Judge Larry Williams, 4,988 (55.7 percent) to 3,972 (44.3 percent).[4]
A special election was hence held on March 8, 2011. As the Republican nominee, Cozart defeated another Democrat, Jerry M. Rephan, in a low-turnout contest, 1,862 (60.4 percent) to 1,223 (39.6 percent).[5] Cozart won a full term in the general election held on November 6, 2012. He serves on both the House committees of Education and City, County, and Local Affairs.[2]
Cozart has a conservative voting record in the state House. He voted to override the vetoes of Democratic Governor Mike Beebe to enact legislation requiring photo identification for casting a ballot in Arkansas and to ban abortion after twenty weeks of gestation; he was the co-sponsor of both of these measures. He voted to ban abortion whenever fetal heartbeat is detected and to make the death of an unborn child a felony in certain cases. He voted for curriculum standards for Bible instruction in public schools. Cozart co-sponsored legislation to allow handguns on church properties. He voted to empower university officials to carry weapons in the name of campus safety. He did not vote on measures to make the office of prosecuting attorney in Arkansas nonpartisan or to allow the sale of up to five hundred gallons per month of unpasteurized whole milk directly from the farm to consumers.[6]
References
- "Bruce Cozart's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- "Bruze Cozart, R-24". arkansashouse.org. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- "Deceased candidate wins seat in Garland County, November 2, 2010". arkansasonline.com. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- "State Representative District 024 - Certified, 2010". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- "State Representative District 024 - Certified, 2011". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- "Bruce Cazort's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
| Preceded by R. D. "Rick" Saunders |
Arkansas State Representative for District 24 (Garland County) Bruce Alan Cozart |
Succeeded by Incumbent |