Colt Shelby

Supports protecting farmland and water resources from large industrial development, keeping family farms economically viable across generations, ensuring rural infrastructure receives the same attention as urban centers, and bringing a working farmer's perspective to state agricultural policy.

“Protecting farmland and water resources from being crowded out by large industrial development - including data centers - that can drive up utility costs and strain shared water resources in farm country... Bringing a working farmer's perspective to state agricultural policy, rather than leaving those decisions entirely to lobbyists and agency staff with no boots-on-the-ground experience.”

colt4arkansas.org

Opposes the proposed 3,000-bed Franklin County prison as costly and poorly planned without local input, but supports adding 525 prison beds at Calico Rock, increasing mental health funding, and addressing crime through education and front-end investment rather than only building more beds.

“The proposed 3,000-bed Franklin County prison is a costly, poorly-planned project that will hurt a rural community without making Arkansas safer... Shelby said the state needs more prison beds to help relieve the county jails that are overcrowded with state inmates, and the state should add 525 prison beds at Calico Rock, increase funding for mental health services.”

colt4arkansas.org

Opposes unregulated expansion of large data centers and crypto-mining facilities that push grid costs onto ratepayers, but supports requiring those industrial users to pay their fair share of grid upgrades, protecting water resources, and giving the Public Service Commission authority to review deals before signing.

“Arkansas ratepayers - not out-of-state corporations - should come first when it comes to who pays for the state's energy future... require large data center and crypto-mining operations to pay their fair share of grid upgrades, guarantee water use doesn't come at the expense of local agriculture and communities, and give the Public Service Commission real authority to review these deals before they're signed.”

colt4arkansas.org

Supports full public accounting of state incentive packages, independent audits of large state contracts and economic development agreements, prioritizing spending that pays for itself in roads, schools, and safer communities, and a hard look at capital projects like the Franklin County prison before committing more dollars.

“Arkansas state government should be held to the same standard... Independent audits of large state contracts and economic development agreements, not just internal agency sign-off... Prioritizing spending that pays for itself in better roads, better schools, and safer communities - not vanity projects or corporate giveaways.”

colt4arkansas.org

Supports real-time public disclosure of major state contracts, incentive packages, and economic development agreements before they are finalized; public comment periods for significant agency rule changes; ending emergency rulemaking when there is no genuine emergency; and regular unscripted town halls in every region.

“Arkansans deserve a governor's office that works for them in the open - not behind closed doors... Push for real-time public disclosure of major state contracts, incentive packages, and economic development agreements before they're finalized - not after.”

colt4arkansas.org

States that government should not be involved in abortion, but does not support late-term elective abortion as a normal medical option. Would support a ballot initiative to restore abortion rights and supports HB 1880 narrow exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormality incompatible with life, and medical emergencies.

“You can be pro-choice or pro-life. Either way, the government should not be involved. Unfortunately, it is... I also do not believe late-term elective abortion should be treated as a normal medical option... Shelby went on to say he would support a ballot initiative to restore abortion rights if that's what the people want.”

arktimes.com