Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Pitsch was born in Buffalo in Johnson County in northern [[Wyoming]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Mathew_Pitsch|title=Mathew Pitsch|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref> to Leland Alexander and Della Ann Skiles Pitsch (both born c. 1941).<ref name=obit/> He is listed in the Sheridan County Historical Index as a former resident of Sheridan, Wyoming, dates not specified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wysherid/heritage/p.htm|title=Sheridan County Heritage Index|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=April 9, 2015}}</ref>  

Pitsch was born in Buffalo in Johnson County in northern [[Wyoming]],<ref name=ballotpedia>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Mathew_Pitsch|title=Mathew Pitsch|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref> to Leland Alexander and Della Ann Skiles Pitsch (both born c. 1941).<ref name=obit/> He is listed in the Sheridan County Historical Index as a former resident of Sheridan, Wyoming, dates not specified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wysherid/heritage/p.htm|title=Sheridan County Heritage Index|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=April 9, 2015}}</ref>  

He was reared in several communities in [[Nebraska]] and [[Kansas]], where his father was a teacher and a coach of various sports. In 1983, he received an Associate of Arts in [[Engineering]] from Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, at which in 1982 he was the captain of the Hutchinson Blue Dragons [[football]] team.<ref name=ciclt>{{cite web|url=http://www.ciclt.net/sn/pol/po_detail.aspx?P_ID=&ClientCode=nclm&MemID=27018|title=Mathew W. Pitsch|publisher=ciclt.net|accessdate=April 10, 2015}}</ref>  

He was reared in several communities in [[Nebraska]] and [[Kansas]], where his father was a teacher and a coach of various sports. In 1983, he received an Associate of Arts in [[Engineering]] from Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, at which in 1982 he was the captain of the Hutchinson Blue Dragons [[football]] team.<ref name=ciclt>{{cite web|url=http://www.ciclt.net/sn/pol/po_detail.aspx?P_ID=&ClientCode=nclm&MemID=27018|title=Mathew W. Pitsch|publisher=ciclt.net|accessdate=April 10, 2015}}</ref>  

After he sold his interest in the McCourt Company, Pitsch in 2001 joined the faculty and became the dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, formerly Westark Community College. In 2007, he became an economic development specialist for the Greater Fort Smith Regional [[Chamber of Commerce]]. In 2009, he  was invited to direct the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority (RITA) of Western Arkansas, which encompasses Fort Smith and Van Buren in Crawford County.<ref name=mpitsch>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Mathew_Pitsch|title=Mathew Pitsch|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref> Pitsch is also an adjunct professor at the private John Brown University in Siloam Springs in Benton County, Arkansas.<ref name=ciclt/> Pitsch is a member of the boards of the [[United Way]], the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and the Arkansas/Oklahoma State Fair and Rodeo, held each September at Kay Rodgers Park in Fort Smith.<ref name=mwp/>

After he sold his interest in the McCourt Company, Pitsch in 2001 joined the faculty and became the dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, formerly Westark Community College. In 2007, he became an economic development specialist for the Greater Fort Smith Regional [[Chamber of Commerce]]. In 2009, he  was invited to direct the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority (RITA) of Western Arkansas, which encompasses Fort Smith and Van Buren in Crawford County.<ref name=mpitsch>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Mathew_Pitsch|title=Mathew Pitsch|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref> Pitsch is also an adjunct professor at the private John Brown University in Siloam Springs in Benton County, Arkansas.<ref name=ciclt/> Pitsch is a member of the boards of the [[United Way]], the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and the Arkansas/Oklahoma State Fair and Rodeo, held each September at Kay Rodgers Park in Fort Smith.<ref name=mwp/>

In 2012, Pitsch ran unsuccessfully for the District 76 seat in the Arkansas House<ref>{{cite web|url=

In 2012, Pitsch ran unsuccessfully for the District 76 seat in the Arkansas House<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/136708/mathew-pitsch#.VSb5LPnF-S8|title=Mathew Pitsch's Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref> against fellow Republican Denny Altes, a former member of the state Senate. Altes prevailed, 1,626 votes (57 percent) to Pitsch's 1,225 (43 percent).<ref name=mpitsch/> Altes did not seek reelection in 2014, and Pitsch ran again, this time against Altes's son,  Bobby Altes, also of Fort Smith. Pitsch prevailed, 1,715 votes (53.3 percent) to Bobby Altes's 1,503 (46.7 percent). Pitsch then ran without [[Democratic Party |Democrat]] opposition in the November 4 [[general election]], when Republicans dominated the state races in Arkansas that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2014|title=District 76|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref>

http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/136708/mathew-pitsch#.VSb5LPnF-S8|title=Mathew Pitsch's Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref> against fellow Republican Denny Altes, a former member of the state Senate. Altes prevailed, 1,626 votes (57 percent) to Pitsch's 1,225 (43 percent).<ref name=mpitsch/> Altes did not seek reelection in 2014, and Pitsch ran again, this time against Altes's son,  Bobby Altes, also of Fort Smith. Pitsch prevailed, 1,715 votes (53.3 percent) to Bobby Altes's 1,503 (46.7 percent). Pitsch then ran without [[Democratic Party |Democrat]] opposition in the November 4 [[general election]], when Republicans dominated the state races in Arkansas that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2014|title=District 76|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref>

Pitsch served on the House committees on: (1) Joint Advanced Communication Information Technology, (2) Agriculture and Economic Development, and (3) Public Transportation. He is the chairman of the House Small Business and Economic Development Permanent Subcommittee and vice-chairman of the Arkansas Sportsman's Caucus.<ref name=mwp/> He was the House Majority Leader in his second term in the chamber from 2017 to 2018. In February 2015, Pitsch joined dozens of his fellow Republicans and two Democrats in co-sponsoring legislation submitted by Representative Lane Jean of Magnolia, to reduce unemployment compensation benefits. The measure was promptly signed into law by Republican [[Governor]] [[Asa Hutchinson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19578/51495/129425/reduces-unemployment-benefits#.VR3Zr_l4rGY|title=HB 1489 – Reduces Unemployment Benefits – Key Vote|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref>

Pitsch served on the House committees on: (1) Joint Advanced Communication Information Technology, (2) Agriculture and Economic Development, and (3) Public Transportation. He is the chairman of the House Small Business and Economic Development Permanent Subcommittee and vice-chairman of the Arkansas Sportsman's Caucus.<ref name=mwp/> He was the House Majority Leader in his second term in the chamber from 2017 to 2018.<ref name=ballotpedia/> In February 2015, Pitsch joined dozens of his fellow Republicans and two Democrats in co-sponsoring legislation submitted by Representative Lane Jean of Magnolia, to reduce unemployment compensation benefits. The measure was promptly signed into law by Republican [[Governor]] [[Asa Hutchinson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19578/51495/129425/reduces-unemployment-benefits#.VR3Zr_l4rGY|title=HB 1489 – Reduces Unemployment Benefits – Key Vote|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=October 20, 2020}}</ref>

==References==

==References==