Denise Jones Ennett

Denise Jones Ennett is an American politician. She is a Democrat currently serving as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 36th district, having assumed office in 2019 after winning a special election.

Denise Jones Ennett
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 36th district
Assumed office
2019
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Texas at Arlington (BA)
University of Arkansas Little Rock (MA)

Career

Arkansas House of Representatives

Ennett was first elected in a 2019 special election following the resignation of Charles Blake to work for the mayor of Little Rock, beating Darrell Stephens in a runoff election.[1][2] She serves on the House Public Transportation Committee as well as the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development and the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology.[3]

Feminine hygiene products

In January 2021, Ennett co-sponsored a bill that would exempt items such as tampons, menstrual cups, and other products related to feminine hygiene from sales and use taxes in Arkansas.[4] Ennett also sponsored a bill that allowed Arkansas public schools to use their funding to purchase feminine hygiene products and distribute them to students at no cost. The latter bill was approved and signed into law.[5]

Discrimination against disabled people

Ennett co-sponsored a bill that was termed "Lila's law", after a girl who was denied a heart transplant in 2018 due to her having Down syndrome.[6] The bill prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities when seeking an organ transplant, and was signed in to law on April 22, 2021.[7]

Black Lives Matter protest

In June 2020, Ennett attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the fifth consecutive night of protests in front of the Arkansas State Capitol. Ennett told reporters that she felt that she had to protest to ensure the well-being of her children.[8]

Personal life

Ennett is married to a veteran of the United States Air Force, and has three children. They live in Little Rock.[3]

Electoral history

2020
2020 Arkansas House of Representatives election, district 36[9][10]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Denise Jones Ennett (Incumbent) 2,656 69.66%
Democratic Russell Williams III 1,157 30.34%
Total votes 3,813 100.0
General election
Democratic Denise Jones Ennett (Incumbent) 8,180 100.0%
Total votes 8,180 100.0

2019
2019 Arkansas House of Representatives special election, district 36[11][2]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Denise Jones Ennett 446 32.46%
Democratic Darrell Stephens 431 31.37%
Democratic Philip Hood 269 19.58%
Democratic Roderick Greer Talley 154 11.21%
Democratic Russell Williams III 74 5.39%
Total votes 1,374 100.0
Runoff election
Democratic Denise Jones Ennett 583 57.78%
Democratic Darrell Stephens 426 42.22%
Total votes 1,009 100.0

References
  1. "Governor sets special election for House seat vacated by lawmaker who resigned to work with Little Rock mayor". Associated Press. May 30, 2019. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. "2019 Arkansas House of Representatives special primary runoff election, district 36". clarityelections.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  3. "Denise Jones Ennett". Arkansas House of Representatives. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. "Arkansas Bill would make feminine hygiene products tax-free in the state". ABC 24 Memphis. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  5. "House Bill 1611". Arkansas State Legislature. April 19, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  6. Sturch, James (January 29, 2021). "Lila's Law moves forward". The Batesville Daily Guard. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  7. "Senate Bill 155". Arkansas State Legislature. January 21, 2021. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  8. Herzog, Rachel; Monk, Ginny; Simpson, Stephen (June 5, 2020). "On 5th night, protest ends before Little Rock curfew". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  9. "2020 Arkansas House of Representatives primary election results". clarityelections.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  10. "2020 Arkansas House of Representatives general election results". clarityelections.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  11. "2019 Arkansas House of Representatives primary election results, district 36". clarityelections.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
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