Robert Wayne Tullis (born 1950/51) is an American politician of the Libertarian Party. He is a former mayor of Mineral Springs, Arkansas, serving from 2015 to 2019, and a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving from 1979 until 1993.[1]

Bobby Tullis
Mayor of Mineral Springs
In office
January 2015 – May 15, 2019
Preceded byW. S. Heatherly
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 86th district
In office
1983–1993
Succeeded byBobby Wood
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 18th district
In office
1979–1983
Preceded byCorky Carlton
Succeeded byPat Ellis
Personal details
Born1950 or 1951 (age 73–74)
Political partyLibertarian (2011–present)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic (before 2010)
Green (2010–2011)
ResidenceMineral Springs, Arkansas

Biography

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Tullis was born to Denzil Tullis and Nina Whitmore Tullis.[2] He served in the House from 1979 until 1993 as a Democrat, representing the 86th district, which comprised parts of Howard and Sevier counties.[3] In 1994, Tullis mounted a campaign for Arkansas State Auditor, losing narrowly in the Democratic primary to Gus Wingfield. In 2010, he was the Green Party nominee for Arkansas State Treasurer, losing to Democratic incumbent Martha Shoffner.[4][5] The same year, Tullis ran for mayor of Mineral Springs.[6] While he finished in first place with 46% of the vote, since he did not attain a majority a runoff election was necessary, which he lost.[7]

In 2012, Tullis ran for Arkansas's 4th congressional district. After initially exploring a run as a Republican and Libertarian, he later endorsed Republican candidate Beth Anne Rankin.[8][9][10] Tullis later decided to run as a Libertarian as Rankin failed to win the Republican nomination. He lost to Republican Tom Cotton.

In 2014, Tullis unsuccessfully sought the Libertarian nomination for Treasurer.[11] That same year, he was elected mayor of Mineral Springs.[12] He chose not to seek re-election in 2018.[1]

Tullis was the only Libertarian holding elected office in Arkansas during his time as mayor of Mineral Springs.[13]

Electoral history

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Arkansas State Auditor Democratic primary, 1994[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gus Wingfield 166,856 51.8%
Democratic Bobby Tullis 155,018 48.2%
Total votes 321,874 100%
Arkansas State Treasurer election, 2010[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Martha Shoffner 479,701 67.5%
Green Bobby Tullis 230,594 32.5%
Total votes 710,495 100%
Arkansas's 4th congressional district election, 2012[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Cotton 154,149 59.5%
Democratic Gene Jeffress 95,013 36.7%
Libertarian Bobby Tullis 4,984 1.9%
Green J. Joshua Drake 4,807 1.9%
Total votes 258,953 100%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Mineral Springs mayor will not seek re-election". 13 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Nina Whitmore Tullis". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. April 14, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  3. ^ The Historical Report of the Arkansas Secretary of State 2008. University of Arkansas Press. 2009. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-615-23214-0.
  4. ^ Levin, Ross (July 29, 2010). "Former State Rep. running for AR auditor as a Green launches campaign with controversial ad". Independent Political Report. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Brantley, Max (July 18, 2010). "Might Shoffner get an opponent?". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "Bobby Tullis filings" (PDF). Arkansas Secretary of State. August 25, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Brantley, Max (November 3, 2010). "Win some, lose some". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  8. ^ Brock, Roby (August 31, 2011). "Elvis Is Back In The Building And On The Political Scene". Talk Business & Politics. Talk Business. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  9. ^ Brock, Roby (October 31, 2011). "Fourth District Gains More Candidates – Cowart And Tullis". Talk Business. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  10. ^ Brock, Roby (December 12, 2011). "Ross District Director Rules Out Fourth District Run". Talk Business & Politics. Talk Business. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  11. ^ Brantley, Max (January 27, 2014). "AM report: Arrest in fatal stabbing, political announcement". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  12. ^ "Current Public Office Holders". Libertarian Party of Arkansas. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  13. ^ "Elected Officials". Libertarian Party of the United States. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  14. ^ "AR Auditor – D Primary 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  15. ^ "AR Treasurer 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  16. ^ "AR – Election Results". results.enr.clarityelections.com.