Lane Jean

Samuel Lane Jean (born November 10, 1958)[1] is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 2, which includes parts of Lafayette, Miller, and Columbia counties in south Arkansas. He has held the District 2 seat since January 2013. From 2011 to 2013, he was the representative for District 4. He was elected in 2012 by his colleagues as the House Republican Whip under then Majority Leader Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs[2] and subsequent Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives Davy Carter of Cabot in Lonoke County, who was elected as the presiding officer of the House in 2013.

Samuel Lane Jean
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2013
Preceded byLarry Cowling
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2012
Preceded byBruce Maloch
Succeeded byFonda Hawthorne
Mayor of Magnolia, Arkansas
In office
1995 – December 31, 2010
Succeeded byParnell Vann
Personal details
Born (1958-11-10) November 10, 1958
Magnolia, Arkansas
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Judith Jean
ChildrenKelli Jean Taylor
Gray Jean
ResidenceMagnolia, Columbia County
Arkansas, USA
Alma materAbilene Christian University
Southern Arkansas University
OccupationBusinessman: Real estate, cattle, timber

Background

Jean's mother, Katheryn "Kitty" Reeves Jean (1929-2007), a native of Birmingham, Alabama, was the president of Reeves Land and Timber Company of Magnolia. She was active for many years in the Republican Party in Columbia County. Jean has a brother, Hal H. Jean (born 1954) of Magnolia.[3]

Jean graduated from Magnolia High School and attended Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. In 1984, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. He is a former SAU trustee and a former commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development.[4] He is a member of the Church of Christ.

Political career

From 1995 to 2010, Jean was the mayor of Magnolia.[5] Earlier, like his mother, he was a Columbia County justice of the peace. He is engaged in the cattle, timber, and real estate businesses. He is a member of the Emerson Church of Christ in Emerson, AR. Jean is also affiliated with Rotary International and the Arkansas Municipal League. He and his wife, Judith, have two grown children, Kelli and Gray.[4]

Jean won his District 4 House seat in the general election held on November 2, 2010; he succeeded the term-limited Democrat, Bruce Maloch, who was elected instead to the Arkansas State Senate. Jean defeated the Democratic nominee, Raymond Robertson, the owner of a former pharmacy store in Welcome in Columbia County; the tabulation was 4,061 votes (52.5 percent) to 3,671 (47.5 percent).[6]

Jean serves on these House committees: (1) Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development, (2) Revenue and Taxation, (3) Public Retirement and Social Security Programs, (4) Budget. The latter two are joint House and Senate committees.[4] Jean is opposed to abortion, having voted to ban the practice after twenty weeks of gestation or whenever fetal heartbeat is determined. He voted to allow university staff to carry concealed weapons and to require picture identification for voting.[7]

In February 2015, Jean introduced legislation backed by dozens of his fellow Republicans and two Democrats to reduce unemployment compensation benefits. The measure was promptly signed into law by the newly elected Governor Asa Hutchinson.[8]

References
  1. 91st Arkansas General Assembly Legislative Directory
  2. "Westerman elected Republican leader, March 9, 2012". arhouse.org. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  3. "Katheryn "Kitty" Reeves Jean". tributes.com. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  4. "Lane Jean, R-2". arkansashouse.org. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  5. "Magnolia Mayor-elect Parnell Vann wants public's help with solving problems, December 28, 2010". magnoliareporter.com. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  6. "Jean carries Columbia, Miller counties in House race against Robertson, November 3, 2010". magnoliareporter.com. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  7. "Representative Lane Jean's Political Summary". votesmart.org. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  8. "HB 1489 - Reduces Unemployment Benefits - Key Vote". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
Preceded by
Bruce Maloch		 Arkansas State Representative for District 4

Samuel Lane Jean
2011–2013

Succeeded by
Fonda Hawthorne
Preceded by
Larry Cowling		 Arkansas State Representative for District 2
(Columbia, Lafayette, and Miller counties)

Samuel Lane Jean
2013–

Succeeded by
Incumbent
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