Johnny Key
Johnny Key was the Arkansas Commissioner of Education. Key assumed office in 2015. Key left office on January 10, 2023.
Key began serving as Arkansas commissioner of education on July 25, 2015. Key was appointed to succeed former-Arkansas Commissioner Tony Wood by the State Board of Education in June 2015 after being nominated for the post in March 2015 by Governor Asa Hutchinson.[1][2]
Key is a former Republican member of the Arkansas State Senate, representing District 17 from 2009 to July 31, 2014. He resigned to accept a job as a lobbyist for the University of Arkansas System.[3] He served as Senate Minority Leader from 2009 to 2010.
Key was a justice of the peace for Baxter County from 1997 to 2002. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008.[2]
Biography
Key earned his B.S. from the University of Arkansas in 1991. His professional experience includes working as the Owner of Open Arms Learning Center, Incorporated and an Engineer.[2]
Political career
Commissioner of Education (2015-2023)
Key took office as Arkansas commissioner of education on July 25, 2015. He was first recommended for the post by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in March 2015, and he was approved for the appointment by the State Board of Education on July 25. Key was not reappointed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R).[1]
Qualifications
The timetable for Key's predecessor to leave office, Tony Wood was lengthened after Gov. Hutchinson nominated Key, as Key did not meet the current qualifications for the position.[4] A bill was introduced in the Arkansas State Legislature in March, 2015, that modified the qualifications for the Arkansas Commissioner of Education in a way that would allow Key to serve, at Gov. Hutchinson's behest.[5]
Arkansas law required that the commissioner must hold a master's degree, have had ten years' experience as a teacher and five in educational administration, and possess a valid state teacher's certificate. Senate Bill 681: To Modify The Qualifications For A Person To Serve As The Commissioner Of Education; To Declare An Emergency (SB681) modified these provisions, include that the commissioner must hold these qualifications unless a deputy commissioner holds a master's degree, has had ten years' experience as a teacher and five in educational administration, and possess a valid state teacher's license. If a deputy commissioner holds those requirements, the commissioner is absolved of the obligation.[6] Additionally, the appointee may not be related to any member of the State Board of Education "within the fourth degree of consanguinity."[7] The bill was approved as an emergency measure, noting " that the qualities of a Commissioner of Education have changed along with the education system in general; and that this act is immediately necessary to ensure that the requirements for the Commissioner of Education are appropriate."[6]
Arkansas State Senate (2009-2014)
Key was a Republican state senator.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Key served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Joint Budget, Vice Chair |
| • Legislative Council |
| • Insurance and Commerce |
| • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs |
| • Efficiency |
| • Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Key served on these committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Legislative Council |
| • Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight, Yes |
| • Joint Budget |
| • Education |
| • Efficiency |
| • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs, Chair |
| • State Agencies and Governmental Affairs |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Key served on these committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • City, County and Local Affairs |
| • Education |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Labor |
Elections
2012
- See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012
Key ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Arkansas Senate, District 17. Key ran unopposed in the May 22 Republican primary and ran unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[8][9][10]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Key won election to the 1st District Seat in the Arkansas State Senate, running unopposed in the general election.[11]
Key raised $46,646 for his campaign.[12]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Arkansas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the Arkansas General Assembly was in session from February 10 to March 20.
Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2014. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 89th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 through May 17.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Arkansas General Assembly was in session from February 13 to March 13. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2012. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 88th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 10 to April 27.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Key and his wife, Shannon, have two children.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Johnny Key Arkansas Commissioner Education. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Arkansas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Benjamin Hardy, Arkansas Times, "Johnny Key confirmed by State Board as new Education Commissioner," June 25, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Arkansas Department of Education, "Commissioner Bio," accessed August 25, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Times, "Johnny Key leaving Senate; says votes lacking on broadband change," July 30, 2014
- ↑ Max Brantley, Arkansas Times, "Hutchinson taps Johnny Key to lead Education Department," March 2, 2015
- ↑ Max Brantley, Arkansas Times, "Bill to strip qualifications for education commissioner clears House committee," March 12, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Arkansas State Legislature, "Senate Bill 681," March 10, 2015
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSection102 - ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Election Results 2012," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2012 Election candidates," March 8, 2012
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ VoteNaturally.org, "2008 general election results, Arkansas," November 4, 2008
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Arkansas Senate spending, 2008," November 4, 2008
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ballotpedia, "Arkansas's Freedom Scorecard," accessed July 10, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tony Wood |
Arkansas Commissioner of Education 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Jacob Oliva |
| Preceded by - |
Arkansas State Senate District 17 2009-2014 |
Succeeded by - |
| ||||||||||||||
