The Primary & Judicial Election will be held May 24, 2022. This article is a political ad paid for by Committee to Elect Wendy Wood for Arkansas Court of Appeals. www.facebook.com/votewendywood
By Wendy Wood
One look at me and you see I played basketball. Here is my story:
I grew up in Fort Smith. When I was thirteen years old, I played center for my junior high school team. Our opponent, Kimmons Junior High, were good, and the game was tough. That night, I was fouled—a lot. I was sent to the free throw line many times. Unfortunately, I missed eleven free throws, and we lost! I was devastated because I let down my team.
I was in tears as I rode home with my Dad. He was an FBI agent, and he understands people. In our driveway, under our basketball goal, he gave me a gift.
My father taught me I had the power to improve my own situation. He instilled in me a strong work ethic and the value of practice, practice, practice. He urged me to be consistent. To not rest until I was satisfied.
There is no better gift a father could give his young daughter than to empower a daughter with a steady reassurance she has her own voice and power to change.
Thousands of free throws later, I witnessed a profound change in my life. My hard work helped our high school team win five state championships. I earned a scholarship to Vanderbilt University. Many of my basketball records still stand today.
One record reminds me of my father’s life lesson – I held the NCAA record for the most consecutive free throws for both men and women.
I went on to play basketball for one of the United States national teams and later played professionally in Japan. It was an amazing adventure!
But that’s not the end of my story. Upon my return, I went to work on another court – law school. I worked for a decade as a trial lawyer, standing tall before judges and juries. I listened to clients who trusted a legal system to get it right.
For the past fifteen years, I have worked at the Court of Appeals for Judge Larry Vaught. There, I have worked on more than one thousand five hundred cases. Judge Vaught is retiring, and if you elect me, please know I’ll be ready to serve on day one!
This judicial seat is unlike others, and I have trained for the past 15 years alongside the judge I now seek to replace due to his retirement.
This is what I believe: Voters deserve an appellate judge with deep experience in this unique area of law. Voters want someone with a proven record of helping clients in a courtroom. Voters deserve a judge who understands fair play and hard work.
Justice delayed for so many children in domestic law cases, or for innocent victims of crime, is justice denied. I promise to work hard, offer easy-to-follow decisions, and come to work each day to get these cases right.
I humbly ask that you please cast your vote for me, Wendy Wood.
This article is a political ad paid for by Committee to Elect Wendy Wood for Arkansas Court of Appeals. www.facebook.com/votewendywood.
The Primary & Judicial Election will be held May 24, 2022.
Click view the main page for the 2022 elections in Saline County – www.mysaline.com/2022-elections