Patterson seeking third term

State Rep. Mike Patterson of Piggott traveled Monday to Little Rock to officially file for re-election for his third term for the District 79 House of Representatives seat. The district is comprised of all of Clay County and 17 townships in Greene County.

Patterson was first elected in 2006 and was re-elected in 2008. He currently serves as chair of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee for Counties and Municipalities, on the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology, the House Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology, Revenue and Taxation Committee, Sales Use, Miscellaneous Taxes and Exemptions Subcommittee, Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, Legislative Joint Auditing Executive Committee and as a non-voting member of the Insurance and Commerce Committee.

Patterson previously served six years as a Piggott alderman, was a member of the Piggott Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years and has served as a State Committee member for the Democratic Party of Arkansas for 34 years. He is also a past president of the Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce and has served on several community improvement boards. He retired in 2006 from CenturyTel after 30 years of employment.

Patterson and his wife, Pat, have two children. Their son Patrick is a junior at Piggott High School. Their daughter, Patrice, works for Sen. Mark Pryor in Washington, D.C., and her husband, Ryan, works for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. Mike and Pat also have a three-year-old granddaughter, Peyton Bolling.

"It has been an honor to serve as state representative for District 79," Patterson said in making the announcement. "I appreciate all the support."