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Walden University}}

Walden University}}

'''Carolyn Joan Clark Pollan''' (July 12, 1937 &ndash; October 23, 2021) was an [[United States|American]] [[politician]] who served as the [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for a portion of Sebastian County, (which includes the state's second largest city of [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]) for twelve consecutive two-year terms from 1975 to 1999. Pollan is the longest serving (1) Republican and (2) woman member of the Arkansas legislature in history and (3) the first woman Arkansas legislator to have been named House Associate Speaker Pro Tempore.<ref name=pollanencyc/>

'''Carolyn Joan Clark Pollan''' (July 12, 1937 &ndash; October 23, 2021)<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fort-smith-ar/carolyn-pollan-10417289|title=Carolyn Joam (Clark) Pollan obituary|publisher=dignitymemorial.com|accessdate=January 23, 2022}}</ref> was an [[United States|American]] [[politician]] who served as the [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for a portion of Sebastian County, (which includes the state's second largest city of [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]) for twelve consecutive two-year terms from 1975 to 1999. Pollan is the longest serving (1) Republican and (2) woman member of the Arkansas legislature in history and (3) the first woman Arkansas legislator to have been named House Associate Speaker Pro Tempore.<ref name=pollanencyc/>

==Biography==

==Biography==

Pollan was elected in 1974 from a multi-seat legislative district that encompassed Sebastian County. The district was eventually divided into single-member seats. She is particularly remembered, through her chairmanship of the House Children and Youth Committee, as the author of the law which empowers the Arkansas state police to investigate allegations of [[child abuse]].  During her time in the Arkansas House of Representatives, she sponsored or co-sponsored more than 250 pieces of legislation that became law.

Pollan was elected in 1974 from a multi-seat legislative district that encompassed Sebastian County. The district was eventually divided into single-member seats. She is particularly remembered, through her chairmanship of the House Children and Youth Committee, as the author of the law which empowers the Arkansas state police to investigate allegations of [[child abuse]].  During her time in the Arkansas House of Representatives, she sponsored or co-sponsored more than 250 pieces of legislation that became law.

In 1979, she fought in vain to resurrect the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] in the Arkansas House, but the legislature declined to take up the issue. The ERA fell three states short of ratification when it expired in 1979.<ref name=pollanencyc/>

In 1979, she fought in vain to resurrect the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] in the Arkansas House, but the legislature declined to take up the issue. The ERA fell three states short of ratification when it expired in 1979.<ref name=pollanencyc/> Pollan worked with victims of domestic abuse and established the first domestic abuse hotline and the first Arkansas commission on child abuse, rape, and domestic abuse.<ref name=obit/>

From 1980 to 1983, Pollan was legislative counsel and an informal advisor to Republican [[Governor]] [[Frank D. White]]. After White's election, Pollan and incoming gubernatorial chief of staff Preston Bynum of Siloam Springs, a former Arkansas House minority leader, prepared the 1981 budget—keeping the 1980 level of spending minus 5 percent. Pollan recalls a "stunned silence" over the state capital in Little Rock when White upset Governor [[Bill Clinton]] in 1980, a sense of disbelief among state employees and elected officials. Clinton, however, returned to victory in 1982.<ref name=pollanencyc/>

From 1980 to 1983, Pollan was legislative counsel and an informal advisor to Republican [[Governor]] [[Frank D. White]]. After White's election, Pollan and incoming gubernatorial chief of staff Preston Bynum of Siloam Springs, a former Arkansas House minority leader, prepared the 1981 budget—keeping the 1980 level of spending minus 5 percent. Pollan recalls a "stunned silence" over the state capital in Little Rock when White upset Governor [[Bill Clinton]] in 1980, a sense of disbelief among state employees and elected officials. Clinton, however, returned to victory in 1982.<ref name=pollanencyc/>