Fresh Face, New Ideas

L. J. Bryant has the experience and preparedness to become Arkansas’ next State Land Commissioner. Bryant is a real estate licensee, small business owner, farm owner, and community activist.

"Property taxes are a vital source of revenue for our schools and local governments. The Land Commissioner's office works very hard to restore tax delinquent land to tax-paying status and manage state lands," commented Bryant.

Bryant has a plan to improve the efficiency of the State Land Commissioners office by utilizing the latest technology to market tax delinquent land for auction, and to manage state lands. Bryant will use his state legislative experience to work with the legislature to accomplish these goals. Also, he wants to work with the Land Bank model.

Bryant is committed to total transparency for all Land Commission transactions, and maintaining a quality web site with daily updating. No employee of the State Land Commissioner's Office, will be allowed to accept any gift from any lobbyist—ever. Bryant will follow the rule as well.

Bryant previously served as Legislative Liaison to the President of the State Senate. He owns Jackson Hewitt Tax Service in Jonesboro and is a Hendrix College graduate. Bryant, a life long Arkansan, grew up in Poinsett County and graduated from Weiner High School.

Bryant serves on the governing board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Central Arkansas, the Iron Mountain Regional Arts Council, Jackson County Tourism Council, Drug Prevention Committee, and the Depot Days Committee. Bryant is a member of the Arkansas Education Association (receiving their endorsement in his ‘08 legislative race), Arkansas Realtors Association, Farm Bureau, NRA, Kiwanis, Humane Society, Jackson County Democratic Central Committee, and Jackson County Historical Society. Bryant serves as lay leader of the Newport First United Methodist Church.