LITTLE ROCK (11-20) Jonathan Barnett of Siloam Springs was elected Chairman of the five-person Arkansas State Highway Commission at the Commission’s November 15^th  meeting.  He served the past two years as Vice Chairman.

     Barnett replaces Mary P. “Prissy” Hickerson of Texarkana whose term on the Commission expires in January 2007.   The move is a Commission tradition that allows for the new Chairman to be in place when the Legislature convenes.      

     Commissioner Carl S. Rosenbaum of Little Rock was elected Vice Chairman.  His term on the Commission expires in January of 2011.

     Barnett was appointed to the State Highway Commission by Governor Mike Huckabee and began his term in January 1999. He is a native of Siloam Springs and a graduate of John Brown University. He has been in the construction business all of his adult life as a self-employed building contractor. His company, Jonathan Barnett Enterprises, specializes in commercial and residential construction.

     Barnett is currently serving not only as the Chairman of the Arkansas State Highway Commission, but also as the Chairman of the Special Committee on Commissions and Boards for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).  Barnett has also been elected to serve as the Chairman of the Special Committee on Commissions and Boards for the Southeast Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO).    

     Barnett served as a member of the Siloam Springs City Council from 1974 to 1977. He was named Director of the Arkansas State Building Services in 1996 and served as Chairman of the State Building Services Council from 1997 to 1999. Barnett was also appointed to a position on the Governor’s Citizen’s Council on Highways and Transportation in 1997.  His term on the Arkansas State Highway Commission will end in January of 2009.

     Barnett and his wife, Christy, reside in Siloam Springs and have three children, Sarah, Joe and Lacey.

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