About David
Representative David Whitaker (D-Fayetteville) is a 1999 graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law and earned his BA in Geography from the University of Mary Washington in 1992. In March 2001, he became the Assistant City Attorney for Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he served until his entry into the political arena in late 2009. He is a Tenured member of the Arkansas Bar Association’s House of Delegates, and past Chair of its Law School Committee and Government Practice Section.
Representative Whitaker was first elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2012, and during his five terms has served on the Standing Committees for City, County and Local Affairs; Public Transportation; Judiciary; State Agencies and Governmental Affairs; and Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development. He also serves on the Joint Advanced Communications and Information Technology Committee, and as the House Co-Chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council. He served as House Minority Leader during the 91st General Assembly, and in 2019, the Council of State Governments named him a Henry Toll Fellow.
David's Record
Rep. Whitaker has sponsored legislation to strengthen laws against drunk driving and crack down on predatory towing. Working with Fayetteville and Farmington city leaders, he advised economic developers on how to invest thousands of dollars of general improvement in our region.
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Since being elected, he has helped city and nonprofit leaders make improvements to the Farmington Fire Department, Farmington Library, Farmington Senior Center, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Public Schools, the Yvonne Richardson Community Center, and the Fayetteville National Cemetery, among many organizations.
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David has a proven record of advocating for Arkansas public schools and hourly workers. He is committed to investments in infrastructure, small business development, public schools, health care, pre-K, and agriculture.