Today the Republican Party of Arkansas State Committee held its Winter Meeting to elect 2020-2022 officers, where they selected National Committeewoman Jonelle Fulmer as their next State Chairwoman. Fulmer will be the first woman elected to the position. Vice Chair Jerri Pruden assumed the role in 1979 after Chairman Lynn Lowe announced his run for Governor, and former state senator Sharon Trusty co-chaired the party with Len Blaylock in 1985. Fulmer has served as the Party's National Committeewoman since 2012, and release the following statement after her election:
"It is the honor of my life to be elected Chairwoman of the Republican Party of Arkansas. I have dedicated my life's work to doing right by the people of Arkansas and electing conservative Republicans across this great State. I would be remiss to not thank Chairman Doyle Webb for his incredible leadership these past 12 years. No one can fill his shoes, but together we can and will lead our Party into a new decade of excellence. Let's do this."
Outgoing Chairman Doyle Webb, who also serves as General Counsel to the Republican National Committee and is the longest serving Republican chairman in the nation, released the following statement:
"12 years ago I could never have dreamed where the journey of Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman would have taken me. The people I have met across this state, the miles I have driven, and the Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinners I have attended have been the greatest joy a public servant could ever know. I am blessed beyond measure with all God has given me. I want to thank my beautiful wife Barbara for being with me every step of the way, the incredible young staffers who have worked in the trenches with me, and the elected officials who put their name and their families on the line to make Arkansas a better place to live. I know that the Party is in good hands with Chairwoman Fulmer."
