Andrea Lea

Reared in a military family, Lea has lived in New Hampshire, Hawaii, and Newbury Park in Ventura County, California. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Administration and Management from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.[3] She and her husband, Phillip (born 1956), have three children, Kevin Joseph, Andrew James, and Mary Elizabeth Lea. Phillp and Andrea Lea are members, and she is the recording secretary, of the Central Presbyterian Church of Russellville.[2]

Lea is a sailing and biking enthusiast.[3]

Prior to her legislative service, Lea was a member of the Russellville City Council and then a justice of the peace on the Pope County Quorum Court,[2] equivalent to county commission in other states. In 2008, she was elected in House District 68 over Democrat Thomas Roy Akin, also of Russellville, 5,681 (53.1 percent) to 4,634 (43.3 percent). Mary Elaine Boley of the Green Party in Russellville held the remaining 394 ballots (3.7 percent). The seat was vacated by the Republican Michael Lamoureux of Russellville.[4]

Lea was unopposed for a second House term in 2010.[5] In 2012, Lea was switched to House District 71 and again ran without opposition. The previous representative, Democrat Tommy Wren, was transferred to District 62.[6]

Lea was a member of the Arkansas Legislative Council. In her last term in office, she chaired the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. She was also assigned to the Energy, Management, Rules, and Revenue & Taxation committees.[2]

Lea was a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The purpose of this council is to promote sample legislation written by corporations. She was the organization's co-state chairperson along with Eddie Joe Williams, also succeeding Michael Lamoureux in that role.[7]

The office of State Auditor is one of Arkansas’ seven constitutional offices. The State Auditor is the general accountant for the state, and is also in charge of the payroll for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The office is also in charge of the state's unclaimed property program.[9] The office has existed since Arkansas was made a United States territory in 1819. Its duties have changed very little since its inception. Lea is the third woman elected to the office of State Auditor. The first woman elected was Jimmie Lou Fisher. The second woman elected was Julia Hughes Jones. Lea is the first Republican woman elected as State Auditor in Arkansas.[10]

In January 2019, Lea was elected as the President of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). This organization is associated with the Association of State Auditors. Its purpose is to create awareness of the importance of unclaimed property as a necessary consumer protection program. Its members represent all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and all of the United States’ territories. After Lea was elected as President of this organization, she stated, “I’m honored to be chosen by my colleagues to represent our organization and work to advance our common interest...I look forward to continuing to share our successes in Arkansas across the country and advocating for increased innovation and streamlining of services. It’s a win for businesses, and a win for consumers.”[12]

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