Milton Nicks
| Milton J. Nicks, Jr. | |
 | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from 's 50th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2015 | |
| Born | October 3, 1950 Earle, Crittenden County Arkansas, USA |
|---|---|
| Nationality | African American |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Joann Nicks |
| Children | Four children Parents: |
| Residence | Marion, Crittenden County |
| Occupation | Baptist pastor Construction businessman Former Arkansas State Police officer |
Milton J. Nicks, Jr. (born October 3, 1950),[1] is the pastor of the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in his native Earle in Crittenden County, Arkansas. He is a Democrat state representative for District 50, which includes Crittenden and Cross counties in the eastern part of his state.[2]
Nicks resides in the larger city of Marion] also in Crittenden County. He is the chief executive officer of Nicks Construction Company. Like his colleague Dwight Tosh of Jonesboro, Nicks is a retired officer of the Arkansas State Police. He is a trustee of the Crittenden County Crime Stoppers Board. Nicks is a former trustee, who served under gubernatorial appointment, of Arkansas State University-Mid South, formerly known as Mid-South Community College, an institution in West Memphis, Arkansas. He is a former vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and is a one-time board member of Crittenden Regional Hospital, both in West Memphis.[3][2]
Nicks defeated his fellow African American, the incumbent House District 50 Democrat Fred Smith, a former professional basketball player, in a low-turnout primary held on May 20, 2014. Nicks polled 1,109 votes (67.1 percent) to Smith's 544 (32.9 percent). Nicks was then unopposed in the November 4 general election. Relected in 2016, 2018, and 2020, he is eligible to serve in the House until 2030.[4] Representative Nicks holds these committee assignments: (1) Joint Performance Review, (2) City, County and Local Affairs, and (3) Public Transportation.[2] Nicks is the chaplain of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus.[5]
In February 2015, Nicks was one of twenty legislators who opposed House Bill 1228, authored by Republican Bob Ballinger of Carroll County in northwestern Arkansas,[6] which sought to prohibit government from imposing a burden on the free exercise of religion.[7] Representative Camille Bennett, a Democrat from Lonoke, called for a reworking of the legislation.[8] She claimed the Ballinger bill would establish a "type of religious litmus test" which could impact nearly any law under consideration by the legislature.[6] Ballinger's bill was subsequently signed into law in revised form, SB 975, by Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson.[9]
==References==
- ↑ Milton Nicks, Jr.. intelius.com. Retrieved on April 14, 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Milton Nicks. arkansashouse.org. Retrieved on April 14, 2015.
- ↑ Milton Nicks, Jr.'s Biography. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on December 31, 2020.
- ↑ District 50. Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved on December 31, 2020.
- ↑ Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus (March 16, 2015). Retrieved on April 17, 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Opponents of Religious Freedom Bill Point Out Law Differences, Possible Unintended Consequences. Fox Channel 16 (April 1, 2015). Retrieved on April 14, 2015.
- ↑ HB 1228. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on December 31, 2020.
- ↑ Indiana, Arkansas try to stem religious objections uproar. Atlantic Broadband (April 3, 2015). Retrieved on April 14, 2015; information no longer on-line.
- ↑ Gov. Hutchinson signs revised religious freedom bill; HB 1228 recalled. KTHV-TV (April 2, 2015). Retrieved on April 14, 2015.