Tommy Land

Last updated
Judy Land
(m. 1977)
Tommy Land
Land Commissioner of Arkansas
Assumed office
January 15, 2019
Children2
OccupationSmall business owner
real estate agent

Tommy Land (born August 18, 1955) is an American businessman and politician from Arkansas. A Republican, he was elected on November 6, 2018, as the next Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands, and assumed office in January 2019. [1] He won re-election in 2022.

Contents

Early life and education

Land was born in Haines City, Florida. While in high school (circa 1972), he and his family moved to Heber Springs, Arkansas, the county seat of Cleburne County in the north central part of the state. [2] Land graduated from Heber Springs High School. [3]

After completing his education, Land began a career with Southwestern Bell. [3] Land had an early interest in real estate and bought his first home at age 19 after persuading a judge to grant him "adult" status to sign the real estate contract. [2]

Political career

Land became involved in politics in the early 2010s. In a 2016 interview, he said he was serving as the chairman of the first district for the Arkansas Republican Party. [3] Land was one of six Arkansas Republican presidential electors for Donald Trump and Mike Pence in the 2016 Electoral College. [4] In a Family Council survey of 2018 Arkansas candidates, Land said as Commissioner of State Lands he would "encourage all state offices to look for ways to make government more effective and less expensive." [5]

Electoral history

Land's bid to be the Republican candidate for Land Commissioner was uncontested in the 2018 primary after Alex Ray, from Bryant, dropped out of the race in February. [6] [7] Land faced Democrat Larry Williams in the general election and won with 60 percent of the vote. [8]

Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands election, 2018 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tommy Land 527,948 60.09
Democratic Larry Williams321,74936.62
Libertarian T.J. Campbell28,9483.29
Majority206,19923.47%
Total votes878,645 100
Republican hold

Personal life

Land married his wife, Judy, circa 1977. They have a daughter and a son together. He retired from Southwestern Bell after 30 years of working in construction and customer service, circa 2003. After that, Land started his own digital telephone and computer networking company. Land acquired a real estate licence in 2016 and the family has leased mineral rights from their property, also operating a cattle farm. Judy was elected as Cleburne County assessor in 2014. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleburne County, Arkansas</span> County in Arkansas, United States

Cleburne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,711. The county seat and most populous city is Heber Springs. The county was formed on February 20, 1883, as the last of Arkansas's 75 counties to be formed. It is named for Confederate Major-General Patrick Cleburne. Cleburne is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heber Springs, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Heber Springs is a city in and the county seat of Cleburne County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 7,165 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas</span>

The 2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Senator Mark Pryor ran for a second term. No Republican filed to challenge him, and his only opponent was Green Party candidate Rebekah Kennedy. Pryor won re-election with almost 80% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States Senate election in Arkansas</span>

The 2004 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 2, 2004, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Arkansas, concurrently with the election to Arkansas's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. This was the last time the Arkansas Governor’s changed partisan control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate election in Arkansas</span>

The 2014 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Arkansas, concurrently with the election of the Governor of Arkansas, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Heber Springs High School is a comprehensive public high school located in the remote town of Heber Springs, Arkansas, United States. The school provides secondary education for students in grades 9 through 12. It is one of five public high schools in Cleburne County, Arkansas, and the sole high school administered by the Heber Springs School District.

Marion Harland Crank was an American Democratic politician from Foreman in Little River County in the U.S. state of Arkansas. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1951 to 1968. He was the Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1963 to 1964 and his party's gubernatorial nominee in 1968, but he was narrowly defeated by the incumbent Republican Winthrop Rockefeller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Arkansas elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arkansas on November 4, 2014. All of Arkansas' executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Arkansas' four seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on May 20, 2014, for offices that need to nominate candidates. Primary runoffs, necessary if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, were held on June 10, 2014.

David Webster Hillman is an American politician from Almyra, Arkansas, who is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. He represented District 13 in the southeastern portion of his state from January 14, 2013 to January 9, 2023.

Cecil Lewis Alexander is a former influential Democratic politician and lobbyist in Arkansas. He was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving from 1963 to 1979, including a term as Speaker of the House. Alexander later became a lobbyist followed by a tenure as chair of the Arkansas Racing Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Thurston (politician)</span> American politician from Arkansas

John Manuel Thurston is an American politician who is the current Secretary of State of Arkansas; he was elected in November 2018, and won re-election in 2022. In August 2023, Thurston announced that he would run in a special election for state treasurer in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States presidential election in Arkansas</span>

The 2016 United States presidential election in Arkansas was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Arkansas voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. Arkansas has six electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arkansas elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arkansas on November 6, 2018. All of Arkansas' executive officers were up for election as well as all of Arkansas' four seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primaries were held on May 22, 2018. Polls were open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CST. Republicans retained all statewide offices and all four seats in the United States House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Arkansas, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson won re-election to a second term, winning by more than 33 percentage points and carrying all but seven counties, marking the largest winning margin of any Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arkansas history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the U.S. state of Arkansas; one from each of the state's four congressional districts. Primaries were held on May 22, 2018. The elections and primaries coincided with the elections and primaries of other federal and state offices. Polls were open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CST. This election marked the first time in eight years where the Democrats contested every seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the seven U.S. representatives from the state of Colorado, one from each of the state's seven congressional districts. The Republican and Democratic Party primaries in Colorado were held on June 26, 2018. The elections coincided with the gubernatorial election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Arkansas elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arkansas on November 8, 2022. All of Arkansas' executive officers were up for election as well as all four of the state's seats in the United States House of Representatives and a U.S. senator. Primaries were held on May 24, 2022, with runoff primaries on June 21. Polls were open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CST.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Texas elections</span>

The 2022 Texas elections were held on November 8, 2022. Primary elections were held on March 1, with runoffs held on May 24 for primary candidates who did not receive a majority of the vote.

Clint Penzo is an American politician and businessman serving as a member of the Arkansas Senate representing the Springdale area. He previously served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023.

References

  1. Field, Hunter (October 8, 2018). "3 hopefuls seek Arkansas lands office". Arkansas Democrat–Gazette. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Field, Hunter (November 12, 2018). "Tax-delinquent land sales focus of Arkansas official-elect". Arkansas Democrat–Gazette. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Fanney, Brian (November 22, 2016). "Heber Springs Republican to run for land commissioner". Arkansas Democrat–Gazette. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  4. "Here are the people who will cast the formal vote for president next month". Politico. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  5. "View Candidates: Commissioner of State Lands". Arkansas Voters Guide. Family Council. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  6. Brantley, Max (February 5, 2018). "Alex Ray quits land commissioner race". Arkansas Times. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  7. "Arkansas Primary Election Results". The New York Times. May 29, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  8. "Arkansas Election Results". The New York Times. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  9. "2018 General Election and Nonpartisan Judicial Runoff Unofficial Results". Arkansas Secretary of State. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands
2018, 2022
Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Land Commissioner of Arkansas
2019–present
Incumbent