Washington County Executive Committee | 2017-2019
Lisa Whitaker, Chair
lisarwhitaker@gmail.com
(479) 422-8313
Lisa Whitaker first became involved in politics in 2004 going to Meetups for Wes Clark's presidential campaign.
Her interest in politics should be no surprise as she comes from a family rich in political history. Her grandfather was an Arkansas House Member and State Senator at the turn of the last century and one of her uncles, Senator Clarence Bell, served in the Arkansas Senate for decades. Her great-great-grandfather was John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States.
Lisa has served for more than ten years on the State Committee of the Democratic Party of Arkansas and is currently serving her third term on the DPA Executive Committee. She enjoys lively political discussion with her husband, Representative David Whitaker.
Having practiced pharmacy in Arkansas since the early 80's including 10 years in Healthcare Informatics, Lisa received her PharmD from UAMS in 2008. She is married to Representative David Whitaker and has two daughters and two grandchildren.
Will Watson, First Vice Chair
wdwatsonjr@gmail.com
(501) 860-5004
@Will_Watson
Will Watson is the First Vice Chair of Washington County Democrats, after being elected as Vice Chair for Candidate Recruitment in 2017. Originally from Saline County in central Arkansas, Will has lived in Fayetteville since 2005. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas and works as a nonprofit fundraiser in the arts. Will has managed or worked on more than two dozen primary and general election campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels.
In addition to politics, Will gives back by serving on volunteer boards and commissions across the state. He was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to the Arkansas Scenic Preservation Coordinating Committee and to the Board of Visitors of his alma mater, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts in Hot Springs. Will has also served on the Board of Directors for the Yvonne Richardson Community Center and on the Fayetteville Historic District Commission.
Lisa Parks, Secretary & Voter Protection Committee Chair
lisajurisdr@cox.net
(479) 263-0943
Lisa Parks is now serving her second term as Secretary. She graduated from the University
of Arkansas School of Law in 2000 and is an attorney with the Washington County Public
Defender's Office.
Lisa became interested in politics when her mother and grandmother took her along to shake hands with David Pryor and Dale Bumpers at fish fries. Her fate was sealed the first time she heard Bill Clinton speak. While in high school, she worked on Clinton's second gubernatorial campaign and later helped open the Calhoun County Democratic Headquarters during his 1990 re-election campaign for Governor.
While in college at UAM, Lisa worked in the Clinton Presidential campaign office in Drew County where she handed out and mailed hundreds of Clinton/Gore postcards. She managed to hold on to a few of those.
Lisa is married to Scott Parks, also a local attorney. They live in Tontitown and have 4 grown children and one 6 year old grandson, Owen.
Lisa currently serves on the board of Project Right Choice and is a past board member of Ozark Literacy Council. She enjoys hiking, camping, home improvement projects, reading, movies, Zumba, and is an avid Zac Brown Band fan.
As Secretary, Lisa is responsible for management of committee documents and accreditations, maintains meeting minutes, membership rosters, supervises county committee & candidate filing periods and often serves as legal council for the party.
Charles Leflar, Treasurer
Charles Leflar is a Fayetteville native and has his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Arkansas and Masters and PhD degrees from the University of Missouri. He has taught accounting at the U of Ark for over 25 years teaching a wide variety of accounting and business courses and has also taught in Panama and Ireland. A former Eagle Scout, he served on the State Executive Committee and as Treasurer of the Sierra Club for a decade, on the board of Community Access Television, currently serves on the Fayetteville City Audit Committee and has engaged in a variety of other progressive volunteer activities. He has won a variety of University and national teaching awards and serves as Faculty Advisor for award winning student organizations.
Charles Leflar is a Fayetteville native and has his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Arkansas and Masters and PhD degrees from the University of Missouri. He has taught accounting at the U of Ark for over 25 years teaching a wide variety of accounting and business courses and has also taught in Panama and Ireland. A former Eagle Scout, he served on the State Executive Committee and as Treasurer of the Sierra Club for a decade, on the board of Community Access Television, currently serves on the Fayetteville City Audit Committee and has engaged in a variety of other progressive volunteer activities. He has won a variety of University and national teaching awards and serves as Faculty Advisor for award winning student organizations.
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Cindy Barson, Marketing Committee Co-Chair
cindy.barson@gmail.com
(407) 948-8021
Cindy is new to NWA since June 2015. Originally from Little Rock, she grew up in Houston and raised her two boys in a little town outside Orlando, FL. She has more than 25 years’ experience managing events, marketing, and non-profit fundraising. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for March of Dimes, written million-dollar grant proposals for technology innovation to help deaf students, launched a successful line of educational iPod apps, and managed contracts for DoD. Cindy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Stephens College in Columbia, MO.
While her boys were in public school in Florida, she became aware of funding cuts each year that began to affect the teachers and facilities but, most of all, the students. Working closely with the superintendent, she and a close friend started a PAC. They began speaking at school board meetings, PTA meetings, town halls, radio, television and anywhere they could to bring awareness to the issue. Ultimately, during the November 2012 election, a vote for an increased millage was placed on the ballot for Seminole County, FL and it passed! From that point, politics has played a major role in her life.
Cindy, her husband and two boys came to NWA to be closer to family. She started an event planning and rental business and has become immersed in the political environment. She hopes to support all the 2018 mid term candidates this year and turn Arkansas blue again!
cindy.barson@gmail.com
(407) 948-8021
Cindy is new to NWA since June 2015. Originally from Little Rock, she grew up in Houston and raised her two boys in a little town outside Orlando, FL. She has more than 25 years’ experience managing events, marketing, and non-profit fundraising. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for March of Dimes, written million-dollar grant proposals for technology innovation to help deaf students, launched a successful line of educational iPod apps, and managed contracts for DoD. Cindy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Stephens College in Columbia, MO.
While her boys were in public school in Florida, she became aware of funding cuts each year that began to affect the teachers and facilities but, most of all, the students. Working closely with the superintendent, she and a close friend started a PAC. They began speaking at school board meetings, PTA meetings, town halls, radio, television and anywhere they could to bring awareness to the issue. Ultimately, during the November 2012 election, a vote for an increased millage was placed on the ballot for Seminole County, FL and it passed! From that point, politics has played a major role in her life.
Cindy, her husband and two boys came to NWA to be closer to family. She started an event planning and rental business and has become immersed in the political environment. She hopes to support all the 2018 mid term candidates this year and turn Arkansas blue again!
Jeremy Stark, Marketing Committee Co-Chair
jeremystark42@gmail.com
(479) 590-3685
Jeremy was born in Star City, Arkansas, but lived most of his life in Cabot, Arkansas. After high school, he went to Henderson State University where he majored in Mass Media with a minor in Communication. In 2011, he moved to Fayetteville. During that time, he worked and volunteered at 7 Hills Day Center. During this time, Jeremy realized his passion for helping others and went back to school to get his Masters in Social Work. After graduating in 2016, he began working for Ozark Guidance as a School Based Therapist.
Jeremy has always been interested and passionate about politics but it was not until the 2016 election that he decided to become involved in the Democratic Party in Washington County. At that time, he volunteered for several of the committees including Strategic Planning, Voter Protection, and Marketing. Jeremy is also passionate about advocating for youth. He is a founding member of Arkansas Coalition for Healthy Youth which promotes evidence-based sexuality and relationship education to be offered in Arkansas schools.
Jeremy is excited to take on this new role and continue the great work of those before him.
jeremystark42@gmail.com
(479) 590-3685
Jeremy was born in Star City, Arkansas, but lived most of his life in Cabot, Arkansas. After high school, he went to Henderson State University where he majored in Mass Media with a minor in Communication. In 2011, he moved to Fayetteville. During that time, he worked and volunteered at 7 Hills Day Center. During this time, Jeremy realized his passion for helping others and went back to school to get his Masters in Social Work. After graduating in 2016, he began working for Ozark Guidance as a School Based Therapist.
Jeremy has always been interested and passionate about politics but it was not until the 2016 election that he decided to become involved in the Democratic Party in Washington County. At that time, he volunteered for several of the committees including Strategic Planning, Voter Protection, and Marketing. Jeremy is also passionate about advocating for youth. He is a founding member of Arkansas Coalition for Healthy Youth which promotes evidence-based sexuality and relationship education to be offered in Arkansas schools.
Jeremy is excited to take on this new role and continue the great work of those before him.
Mail and other correspondence:
Democratic Party of Washington County
PO Box 864
Fayetteville, AR 72702
Email: washcodemocrats@gmail.com
Democratic Party of Washington County
PO Box 864
Fayetteville, AR 72702
Email: washcodemocrats@gmail.com
All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owners.
All other © 2016 Washington County Democratic Central Committee
Site paid for by: Washington County Democratic Central Committee, Treasurer, Charles Leflar
Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee.
All other © 2016 Washington County Democratic Central Committee
Site paid for by: Washington County Democratic Central Committee, Treasurer, Charles Leflar
Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee.
