02/16/16   Camden Businessman And El Dorado Lawyer Vie For Democratic Nomination For House In District 7

A former state representative and a lawyer are running for the Democratic nomination in House District 7, which includes parts of Calhoun, Ouachita and Union counties in South Arkansas.

The candidates are 64 year old Garry L. Smith of Camden, who owns a plumbing business and 66 year old Floyd M. Thomas of El Dorado, who's been an attorney for the past 41 years.

Smith served in the House from 2009 through 2012. He lost his re-election bid in the Democratic primary in 2012 to John Baine, an accountant from El Dorado who served two terms in the House but didn't run for re-election this year. State representatives are elected for two year terms.

Beginning this year, the annual salary for an Arkansas House member is $39,500.00. The winner of the March 1, Democratic primary election will face Sonia Eubanks Barker, a Republican, and Glen Glover, an independent in the general election November 8.