Doug Corbitt, a philosophy professor of 22 years in the UCA honors college, has announced his candidacy for state representative in District 54. 

Corbitt is running for the Democratic Party against Republican State Rep. Mary Bentley, who is has served in the state house since 2015.

District 54 includes parts of Faulkner, Perry, Pope, Saline and Yell counties.

While Corbitt said he has taught democracy and community service as a moral ideal in his classroom, running for a political office came as a surprise.

Corbitt said he was in Chicago for the National Collegiate Honors Council conference Nov. 13 when he got a surprise call from Teresa Huff, chairperson of the Faulkner County Democratic Party.

“She said, ‘Doug, would you like to run for state representative in District 54?’ and my anxiety level went through the roof, right? But one of my convictions is that those things that we know are good and that scare us to death [are] probably a form of call. And this scared me to death,” Corbitt said.

Corbitt said he told Huff he would need several days to come to a decision but Huff said the following day was the deadline.

Corbitt said, “I came to the conclusion that I would be a hypocrite if I had preached democracy as a moral ideal, and then this opportunity to speak out for the sake of democracy – to speak out and work for a world where everybody matters, everybody is acknowledged and welcomed and celebrated – if that opportunity came my way, and I said, ‘No, thanks.’ So, with great fear, I said, ‘Okay,’ and that’s how I came to be here.”

Corbitt said that while campaigning wasn’t in his plans, he was getting help and guidance from acquaintances with political connections in Arkansas.

On Dec. 2 he met with members of the Democratic Party in Perryville “to get to know their concerns and what they think we need to do.”

Corbitt said he wants to see Arkansas more unified with a thriving economy and education system, and more accessible health care.

“I want a state that’s organized around the idea that all of our citizens, young and old, employed and unemployed are valuable – are precious – and that we want to create policies that will help absolutely everyone live the most flourishing life possible under the circumstances in which we find ourselves.”

“I want to see a flourishing economy for Arkansas, one that actually is going to be flourishing in the new world as we face climate change, artificial intelligence, globalization and so many challenges,” he said.

“I want Arkansas to have an educational system that actually equips people to live meaningful lives —  lives of service and of joy and gratitude in that world that is coming. 

“I want Arkansas to have a health care system that provides the very best care, prenatally, neonatally, and then through life, because it makes a huge difference. I want it to be accessible. “I want health care to be accessible for people. I want us to be the kind of community where crime just doesn’t need to be an option because people feel their dignity recognized and affirmed because people see that they have opportunities,” Corbitt said. “I want us to be a flourishing human community, not just now, but into the indefinite future.”

Corbitt said although he was nervous about the campaign, he was also excited to get to embody the values he had been teaching his honors students.

“I’m looking forward to meeting so many wonderful people, even if they don’t like me. I mean that. 

“I know there’s going to be people who think I’m the biggest idiot, numbskull and want to tell me that, but you know, I think even those people have wonderful gifts. I’m looking forward to see what those are,” Corbitt said.

“I’ve been in the honors college for 22-and-a-half years and I have come to believe that what we’re doing in honors is attempting to equip people to build a certain kind of world. It’s a world where everyone is seen as precious, everyone matters, everyone is welcome and affirmed and acknowledged.”

Corbitt said, “I went into philosophy, not thinking I would teach. I went into philosophy because there were things I wanted to find out – things about ethics, justice and political systems.

“I have been immensely fortunate over these last almost four decades now to have met a lot of wonderful people and read a lot of wonderful books that have helped me get clear about what really matters. My academic background has led me to believe that it’s people who matter.”

Corbitt said in his Senior Seminar class he assigns his students to go to a meeting being held by a group whose values they disagree with and to listen and strike up friendly conversation with a member without arguing.

“And I did that myself. It was just eye-opening. Because I chose a group to go to that I thoroughly disagreed with their politics,” he said.

“You run into these people who if you look at them simply through their politics, you want to go ‘Oh, really, you believe that?’ and then you’re sitting right next to them and you get into this lovely conversation and you realize, ‘Hey, we’re friends.’”

Corbitt said that he intends to embody the value that everyone is of importance throughout his political action if elected.

“I have to be somebody who goes to people and asks them what state legislature can do for them and what their concerns are. I can’t be the kind of person who just waits for people to come to me.

“I have to be somebody who goes to schools and speaks to teachers and principals — not to tell them what they need to know —  but to find out what they need me to know,” he said.

“I need to talk to farmers’ groups, to banking groups, and I think that it’s incumbent upon me to get out and make those connections and get to know people and to seek their input and to seek their guidance.”

Maggie Westlin, a junior honors student, said, “I had a really good experience in my honors class with Doug. He was always very thoughtful and seemed to care a lot about his students and our classwork or discussions. 

“He helped me a lot with a paper we wrote in his class, and it’s still one of my favorite papers I’ve written throughout my college experience.”

Westlin said she “felt like Doug really valued intellectual curiosity and thoughtful discussion” and she “always appreciated his emphasis on philosophy and critical inquiry.”

“I think if he were to be elected as a state representative, Doug would bring all of those things to table, as well as a commitment to informed decision-making,” Westlin said. “He’s extremely thoughtful, considerate, and thorough, all of which are qualities I think would aid him if elected.”

Republican State Rep. Mary Bentley, Corbitt’s incumbent opponent, said, “I welcome Mr. Corbitt into the race for District 54. This is what makes our nation great: honest and fair elections allowing constituents the right to elect those who best represent their values and hopes for Arkansas.”

The general election will be held Nov. 5 of next year with Arkansas’ primary election set for March 5 with a primary runoff on April 2.

To find out which district you are in consult the arkansashouse.org district map.