Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday appointed David Haak, a former state lawmaker, to the Arkansas Freeway Fee.
In a information launch, Sanders said Haak would “play a essential position in bringing new, extreme paying jobs to the state whereas enhancing The regular of life for all Arkansans.
“David’s lifetime of public service, group involvement, And extremely effective management will make him an asset to the commission — And that i am assured that collectively We’ll Make constructive that U.S. Freeway 82 finally turns into a 4-lane interstate, unleashing south Arkansas’ full financial potential,” Sanders said Inside The discharge.
Haak will substitute Robert Moore, Jr., who was appointed to the commission by former Gov. Mike Beebe in 2013. Haak’s time period will expire Jan. 14, 2033.
The Arkansas Freeway Fee is a 5-member panel Responsible for overseeing The enchancment and upkeep of Arkansas’ extremeways. The current commission was created as a constitutionally unbiased board by Modification 42 of the Arkansas Structure.
All members of the board serve 10-yr time durations and are appointed by the governor with The suggestion and consent of the state Senate. Nominations to the extremeway panel, Together with these to the Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee, are Amongst The numerous most coveted state commission appointments.
A lifelong resident of Texarkana, Haak served Inside the Arkansas House from 1999 to 2004. As a state recurrentative, he held seats in a quantity of committees collectively with the Joint Price range Committee, Income and Tax Committee, and Insurance coverage and Commerce Committee. Haak additionally has served on the Arkansas Economic Development Fee from 2005-2008 and on the Arkansas Waterways Fee in 2021, Based mostly on the information launch.
“It is an honor to be appointed to the Arkansas Freeway Fee by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders — a longtime good friend and daring, visionary chief for the state of Arkansas,” Haak said Inside The discharge. “I am In a place to get to work empowering our Individuals with strong and reliable extremeway infrastructure and prioritizing the completion of an interstate from Texarkana to Lake Village.”
The Arkansas Division of Transportation recently widened U.S. 82 between El Dorado and Texarkana to 4 lanes. The enchancment — which started in 2020 and was accomplished final yr — elevated the thoroughfare’s performance and allowed for safer journey between The two cities, Based mostly on the Division of Transportation internet website.
Haak has served as a metropolis director, chamber of commerce board member and zoning and planning commissioner in Texarkana, Based mostly on The discharge.
In 2021, the Texarkana metropolis Board of Directors named Haak as metropolis supervisor after Kenny Haskin resigned from the submit unexpectedly.
Haak started and runs First Tape & Label, a label enterprise in Texarkana. In 1990, he was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Texas A&M College Texarkana and in 2006 was named the Texarkana Arkansas School District “Distinguished Alumni,” The discharge said.
Haak is a longtime member of Beech Road First Baptist Church and a graduate of Texarkana Arkansas Highschool and Henderson State College.
Efforts To Obtain Haak on Thursday afternoon by telephone have been unsuccessful.
Investing in “strong, sustainable infrastructure” collectively with roads, bridges and broadband is among Sanders’ priorities, spokeswoman Alexa Henning said in an emailed assertion. While pursuing federal funds and grant packages To take care of infrastructure, Sanders’ administration additionally will push “again in the direction of The novel inexperienced-new-deal-like fantasies of The novel left that forestall financial progress,” Henning said.