Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Announces Bid for State Senate

"As the next state senator, my responsibility is to connect the dots from classrooms to businesses to technology to our farmers to the global market." Largent stated.

According to a press release from Jason Hebert at The Political Firm, Bob Largent, Retired Air Force Colonel and current Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO is running for Arkansas State Senate. Largent will be running to represent district 28 which will include Carroll, Madison, and parts of Boone, Newton, Johnson, and Franklin Counties under the newly drawn senate districts that will take effect in 2023. 

Currently representation of that section of Arkansas is made up of parts of districts 5, 16, and 17 with senators Bob Ballinger, Breanne Davis, and Scott Flippo respectively representing them.

Largent will be on the primary ballot in May.  

The full release is below:

Harrison, AR – After thorough consideration, prayer, and conversations with family and friends, Bob Largent has decided to enter the upcoming Republican primary for state senate district #28, covering Carroll, Madison and parts of Boone, Newton, Johnson, and Franklin counties. 

“I believe that my broad teambuilding, collaborative approach to leadership and representation will serve the people well and help strengthen our North Central Arkansas region. I am running for State Senate because Arkansas can’t afford another four years of career politicians. We need to focus on creating jobs in business and agriculture, workforce training, improving schools, and returning to our core conservative principles, like smaller government and personal freedoms,” Largent said.

Born and raised in Springdale, Bob Largent’s compass has always been set on service, leadership, and teamwork. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, this Eagle Scout joined the US Air Force in 1968. For the next 24- and one-half years, Bob held many staff and command assignments, including Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff; Military Assistant to the Commander in Chief, US Pacific Command; Executive Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Missile Combat Crew; Strategic Missile Squadron Commander; and Deputy Group Commander, among others. Bob earned his Master of Public Administration from Oklahoma University in 1982, and graduated from the Air War College, National Security Strategy, in 1989. In December of 1992, he retired in the rank of Colonel, ending one eye opening and fulfilling chapter.

Since 1993, Bob Largent has worked closely with leaders of for-profit and not-for-profit global organizations to help them streamline their operations, save money, improve decision-making, and take advantage of the latest technologies in video communications. He’s collaborated with global giants such as Lockheed Martin, AT&T, CenturyLink, SAIC, Northrop Grumman, and the Department of Defense. His service to the Air Force Association as its National President and then Chairman of the Board, focused his ability to align national priorities with the grass roots of this 100,000 member, 75-year-old organization. In March 2019, Bob became President/CEO of the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce where he’s recreated the organization to focus on economic development, grown investments by 20% and orchestrated a region-wide economic recovery task force in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“At the end of the day, in business and government, a leader has to do what’s right for the stakeholders. As the next state senator, my responsibility is to connect the dots from classrooms to businesses to technology to our farmers to the global market. Unimaginable economic security is within our grasp if we move towards it with new political leadership,” Largent stated.

For Bob Largent, the main thrust for him entering public service centers around our families. He and wife, Becky, whom most would call his much better half, have been blessed with three wonderful children Donna, Jennifer and Scott,  grandchildren Beau, Savannah, Austin, Taylor, Seth, Oliver, Rebecca, Katie, and Josh; and one great grandson, Wyatt. Long ago, Bob’s faith inspired him to be their servant leader as a father and grandfather. He will apply that same level of commitment to serving our families, too. He is pro-life and a constitutional conservative who supports the second amendment and limited federal government. Bob and Becky are members of First Baptist Church in Harrison.

“Passing along a stronger Arkansas to future generations starts now. We all play a role. I hope to earn your trust and vote so that we can set a better course for our great state,” Bob concluded.