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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder | name=Johnny R. Key | image=Johnny Key of AR.jpg | birth_date=December 9, 1968 | residence=Little Rock, Arkansas Former residence:<br> Mountain Hom..."
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Johnny R. Key
| image=Johnny Key of AR.jpg
| birth_date=December 9, 1968
| residence=[[Little Rock]], Arkansas
Former residence:<br>
Mountain Home, Baxter County, Arkansas
| birth_place=[[Arkadelphia, Arkansas|Arkadelphia]], Clark County, Arkansas, USA
| office=[[Arkansas]] State Senator for<br> District 17 (Baxter, Marion, and Boone counties)
| term_start=2013
| term_end=2015
| preceded=James Luker
| succeeded=Scott Flippo
| office2=Arkansas State Senator for District 1
| term_start2=2009
| term_end2=2013
| preceded2=Shawn Womack
| succeeded2=Bart Hester
| soffice3=Arkansas State Representative for District 81
| term_start3=2003
| term_end3=2009
| preceded3=
| succeeded3=[[Karen Hopper]]
| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]
| alma_mater=[[University of Arkansas]]
| occupation=[[Engineer]]; [[Business]]man
| religion=[[Assemblies of God]]
| spouse=Shannon L. Key
| children=Ryan and Rachel Key}}
'''Johnny R. Key''' (born December 9, 1968) is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] from [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]]. From 2003 to 2009, he represented state House District 81. He was elected to the state Senate for District 1 in 2008, a post he held until 2013, when he began representing state Senate District 17, which encompasses Baxter, Marion, and Boone counties in the northwestern portion of his state. He was term-limited in 2014 and could not seek another term in the state Senate. Republican [[Governor]] [[Asa Hutchinson]] appointed him as the state education commissioner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/johnny-key/e441093768498|title=Johnny Key|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 17, 2020}</ref>)
Key formerly resided in Mountain Home in Baxter County, where he operated two locations of the Open Arms Learning Center.
==Background==
A native of [[Arkadelphia, Arkansas|Arkadelphia]] in South Arkansas, Key graduated in 1986 from Gurdon High School in [[rural]] Clark County.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/Member%20Profiles/Johnny%20Key%20-%20Senate%20Bio.pdf|title=Biography of the Honorable Johnny Key, Arkansas State Senator|publisher=Arkansas State Senate|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref> In 1991, he obtained a [[Bachelor of Science]] in chemical engineering from the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville].<ref name=jrkey>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/16211/johnny-key#.UqFMoBXnYfQ|title=Johnny Key's Biography|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref>
Key and his wife, Shannon L. Key (born 1970), have two children, Ryan and Rachel. He is affiliated with the [[Assemblies of God]] Church. He is a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]] and Lions International.<ref name=jrkey/>
==Political life==
From 1997 to 2002, Key was a justice of the peace of the Baxter County Quorum Court. In 2002, he was elected to the state House and served three two-year terms in the chamber, including a stint as Minority Leader. In 2008, Key was elected without opposition in the [[general election]] to the State Senate form District 1; he was switched to the revised District 17 with the 2012 election, when he again ran unopposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_State_Senate_elections,_2012|title=Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=December 17, 2020}}</ref>
Key served on the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Joint Retirement and Social Security Committee, and the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee. His other Senate committee assignments included (1) Budget, (2) Education, (3) Efficiency, and (4) Insurance & Commerce.<ref name=bio/><ref name=jrkey/> The [[conservative]] Key has sponsored legislation to cut in half the [[sales tax]]es on groceries and to exempt retirement and pension income from Arkansas state [[income tax]]es.<ref name=bio/>
As a civic leader, Key has worked with the [[interest group]], [[Mothers Against Drunk Driving]], to attempt to reduce drinking by teenagers. He successfully supported legislation to create drug courts.<ref name=bio/> In 2011, the Arkansas Pharmacists Association presented Key with the Guy Newcomb Award, named for the late pharmacy leader from Osceola, who was the 1968 Republican nominee for Arkansas' 1st congressional district seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apa.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=22:apa-awards&id=83:guy-newcomb-award|title=Guy Newcomb Award|publisher=apa.memberclicks.net|accessdate=December 6, 2013}}</ref>
Key opposes [[abortion]], having voted to ban the practice after twenty weeks of [[gestation]] or whenever fetal heartbeat is determined. He opposes allowing abortion to be covered in health-care plans.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/16211/johnny-key#.UqFRHxXnYfQ|title=Johnny Key's Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=December 17, 2020}}</ref> In 2008, while in the House, he unsuccessfully opposed an increase in [[natural gas]] taxes. In 2011, he opposed a bill to ban [[cell phone]]s in school zones. He voted that same year to require dress codes for public schools.<ref name=votingrecords/>
In 2013, Key joined the Senate majority to amend state income tax rates and to reduce the amount of weekly unemployment compensation benefits. He co-sponsored legislation to test recipients of unemployment compensation for the potential illegal use of [[narcotics]]. He voted successfully to override [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] then Governor [[Mike Beebe]]'s [[veto]] of a bill to require photo identification when one casts a ballot in Arkansas. He voted against legislation to make the office of prosecuting attorney in Arkansas a nonpartisan position. He co-sponsored legislation to permit handguns to be carried on church properties for security purposes and to forbid the release of information on the holders of concealed carry permits. He voted to allow university staff to carry concealed weapons. Key supported legislation to permit the sale of [[Louis Pasteur|unpasteurized]] whole milk within his state.<ref name=votingrecords/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Key, Johnny}}
[[Category:Arkansas]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:State Representatives]]
[[Category:State Senators]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Pro-Life]]
| name=Johnny R. Key
| image=Johnny Key of AR.jpg
| birth_date=December 9, 1968
| residence=[[Little Rock]], Arkansas
Former residence:<br>
Mountain Home, Baxter County, Arkansas
| birth_place=[[Arkadelphia, Arkansas|Arkadelphia]], Clark County, Arkansas, USA
| office=[[Arkansas]] State Senator for<br> District 17 (Baxter, Marion, and Boone counties)
| term_start=2013
| term_end=2015
| preceded=James Luker
| succeeded=Scott Flippo
| office2=Arkansas State Senator for District 1
| term_start2=2009
| term_end2=2013
| preceded2=Shawn Womack
| succeeded2=Bart Hester
| soffice3=Arkansas State Representative for District 81
| term_start3=2003
| term_end3=2009
| preceded3=
| succeeded3=[[Karen Hopper]]
| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]
| alma_mater=[[University of Arkansas]]
| occupation=[[Engineer]]; [[Business]]man
| religion=[[Assemblies of God]]
| spouse=Shannon L. Key
| children=Ryan and Rachel Key}}
'''Johnny R. Key''' (born December 9, 1968) is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] from [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]]. From 2003 to 2009, he represented state House District 81. He was elected to the state Senate for District 1 in 2008, a post he held until 2013, when he began representing state Senate District 17, which encompasses Baxter, Marion, and Boone counties in the northwestern portion of his state. He was term-limited in 2014 and could not seek another term in the state Senate. Republican [[Governor]] [[Asa Hutchinson]] appointed him as the state education commissioner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/johnny-key/e441093768498|title=Johnny Key|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 17, 2020}</ref>)
Key formerly resided in Mountain Home in Baxter County, where he operated two locations of the Open Arms Learning Center.
==Background==
A native of [[Arkadelphia, Arkansas|Arkadelphia]] in South Arkansas, Key graduated in 1986 from Gurdon High School in [[rural]] Clark County.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/Member%20Profiles/Johnny%20Key%20-%20Senate%20Bio.pdf|title=Biography of the Honorable Johnny Key, Arkansas State Senator|publisher=Arkansas State Senate|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref> In 1991, he obtained a [[Bachelor of Science]] in chemical engineering from the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville].<ref name=jrkey>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/16211/johnny-key#.UqFMoBXnYfQ|title=Johnny Key's Biography|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref>
Key and his wife, Shannon L. Key (born 1970), have two children, Ryan and Rachel. He is affiliated with the [[Assemblies of God]] Church. He is a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]] and Lions International.<ref name=jrkey/>
==Political life==
From 1997 to 2002, Key was a justice of the peace of the Baxter County Quorum Court. In 2002, he was elected to the state House and served three two-year terms in the chamber, including a stint as Minority Leader. In 2008, Key was elected without opposition in the [[general election]] to the State Senate form District 1; he was switched to the revised District 17 with the 2012 election, when he again ran unopposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_State_Senate_elections,_2012|title=Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=December 17, 2020}}</ref>
Key served on the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Joint Retirement and Social Security Committee, and the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee. His other Senate committee assignments included (1) Budget, (2) Education, (3) Efficiency, and (4) Insurance & Commerce.<ref name=bio/><ref name=jrkey/> The [[conservative]] Key has sponsored legislation to cut in half the [[sales tax]]es on groceries and to exempt retirement and pension income from Arkansas state [[income tax]]es.<ref name=bio/>
As a civic leader, Key has worked with the [[interest group]], [[Mothers Against Drunk Driving]], to attempt to reduce drinking by teenagers. He successfully supported legislation to create drug courts.<ref name=bio/> In 2011, the Arkansas Pharmacists Association presented Key with the Guy Newcomb Award, named for the late pharmacy leader from Osceola, who was the 1968 Republican nominee for Arkansas' 1st congressional district seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apa.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=22:apa-awards&id=83:guy-newcomb-award|title=Guy Newcomb Award|publisher=apa.memberclicks.net|accessdate=December 6, 2013}}</ref>
Key opposes [[abortion]], having voted to ban the practice after twenty weeks of [[gestation]] or whenever fetal heartbeat is determined. He opposes allowing abortion to be covered in health-care plans.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/16211/johnny-key#.UqFRHxXnYfQ|title=Johnny Key's Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=December 17, 2020}}</ref> In 2008, while in the House, he unsuccessfully opposed an increase in [[natural gas]] taxes. In 2011, he opposed a bill to ban [[cell phone]]s in school zones. He voted that same year to require dress codes for public schools.<ref name=votingrecords/>
In 2013, Key joined the Senate majority to amend state income tax rates and to reduce the amount of weekly unemployment compensation benefits. He co-sponsored legislation to test recipients of unemployment compensation for the potential illegal use of [[narcotics]]. He voted successfully to override [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] then Governor [[Mike Beebe]]'s [[veto]] of a bill to require photo identification when one casts a ballot in Arkansas. He voted against legislation to make the office of prosecuting attorney in Arkansas a nonpartisan position. He co-sponsored legislation to permit handguns to be carried on church properties for security purposes and to forbid the release of information on the holders of concealed carry permits. He voted to allow university staff to carry concealed weapons. Key supported legislation to permit the sale of [[Louis Pasteur|unpasteurized]] whole milk within his state.<ref name=votingrecords/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Key, Johnny}}
[[Category:Arkansas]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:State Representatives]]
[[Category:State Senators]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Pro-Life]]