Andrea Lea
Andrea Lea | |
|---|---|
| Auditor of Arkansas | |
| In office January 13, 2015 – January 10, 2023 | |
| Governor | Asa Hutchinson |
| Preceded by | Charlie Daniels |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Milligan |
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 71st district | |
| In office January 2013 – January 13, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Tommy Wren |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth Henderson |
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 68th district | |
| In office January 2009 – January 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Lamoureux |
| Succeeded by | Robert Dale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957 (age 66–67) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Phillip Lea |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Arkansas Tech University, Russellville (BA) |
Andrea Christine Lea (born 1957) is an American politician who served as the Arkansas State Auditor and is a Republican former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Russellville, Arkansas. She was elected state auditor on November 4, 2014, to succeed the Democratic incumbent, Charlie Daniels, who did not seek reelection.[1][2][3]
Background
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2022) |
Early political life and state legislature
[edit]Lea was unopposed for a second House term in 2010.[5] In 2012, Lea was switched to House District 71 and again ran without opposition. The previous representative, Democrat Tommy Wren, was transferred to District 62.[6]
Lea was a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The purpose of this council is to promote sample legislation written by corporations. She was the organization's co-state chairperson along with Eddie Joe Williams, also succeeding Michael Lamoureux in that role.[7][8]
Legislation
[edit]State Auditor
[edit]The office of State Auditor is one of Arkansas' seven constitutional offices. The State Auditor is the general accountant for the state and is also in charge of the payroll for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The office is also in charge of the state's unclaimed property program.[9] The office has existed since Arkansas was made a United States territory in 1819. Its duties have changed very little since its inception. Lea is the third woman elected to the office of State Auditor. The first woman elected was Jimmie Lou Fisher. The second woman elected was Julia Hughes Jones. Lea is the first Republican woman elected as State Auditor in Arkansas.[10]
The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt
[edit]The State Auditor's office in Arkansas is in charge of an unclaimed property program. This program is referred to as The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt. The purpose of this program is to return lost money to their rightful owners. Cash assets and safety deposit box contents are turned over to the State Auditor's office after the institutions holding the property deem it abandoned. According to Lea, in Arkansas, there is $317,000,000 in the unclaimed property as of 2017. She stated that "Reuniting Arkansans with their money is something I take very seriously...We now estimate that 1 in 4 Arkansans has cash to claim in the Treasure Hunt. If you've searched in the past, it's time to search again!"[11]
Election as President of NAUPA
[edit]In January 2019, Lea was elected as the President of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). This organization is associated with the Association of State Auditors. Its purpose is to create awareness of the importance of unclaimed property as a necessary consumer protection program. Its members represent all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and all of the United States' territories. After Lea was elected as President of this organization, she stated, "I'm honored to be chosen by my colleagues to represent our organization and work to advance our common interest...I look forward to continuing to share our successes in Arkansas across the country and advocating for increased innovation and streamlining of services. It's a win for businesses, and a win for consumers."[12]
Electoral history
[edit]| Arkansas State House of Representatives 68th District Election, 2008 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Andrea Lea | 5,681 | 53.05 |
| Democratic | Thomas Akin | 4,634 | 43.27 |
| Green | Mary Boley | 394 | 3.68 |
| Arkansas State House of Representatives 68th District Election, 2010 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Andrea Lea (inc.) | n/a | 100.00 |
| Arkansas State House of Representatives 68th District Election, 2012 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Andrea Lea (inc.) | n/a | 100.00 |
| Arkansas Auditor Republican Primary Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Andrea Lea | 111,998 | 68.17 |
| Republican | Ken Yang | 52,293 | 31.83 |
| Arkansas Auditor Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Andrea Lea | 471,211 | 57.17 |
| Democratic | Regina Stewart Hampton | 308,285 | 37.40 |
| Libertarian | Brian Leach | 44,702 | 5.42 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Andrea Lea | 72.35 | 621,722 |
| Libertarian | David E. Dinwiddie | 27.65 | 237,602 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Max Brantley, Andrea Lea joins GOP race for state auditor, July 2, 2013". Arkansas Times. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "Andrea Lea's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "Andrea Lea, R-71". arkansashouse.org. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "State Representative, District 68". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "District 68". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "District 71". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "State Chairs - American Legislative Exchange Council". www.alec.org. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ "Andrea Lea's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
- ^ "Arkansas State Auditor | Andrea Lea". auditor.ar.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "Office of Auditor - Encyclopedia of Arkansas". www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "Arkansas State Auditor | Andrea Lea". auditor.ar.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "Arkansas State Auditor | Andrea Lea". auditor.ar.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- 1957 births
- 21st-century Arkansas politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Arkansas city council members
- Presbyterians from Arkansas
- Arkansas Tech University alumni
- County justices of the peace in Arkansas
- Living people
- Republican Party members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- People from Newbury Park, California
- Arkansas state auditors
- Women city councillors in Arkansas
- Women state legislators in Arkansas