GRAVETTE — Gayla McKenzie announced her bid earlier this week for the House District #92 seat which includes Gravette, Hiwasse, Maysville, Sulphur Springs, Decatur and parts of Bella Vista.
McKenzie is the daughter of Arkansas Representative Kim Hendren, who currently holds House seat #92. She is also the sister of Arkansas Senator Jim Hendren and the niece of Governor Asa Hutchinson.
She is married to Loyd McKenzie. They have two daughters, Elizabeth, 18, a freshman at Liberty University, and Maggie, 16, a junior at Gravette High School.
If elected, McKenzie intends to pursue legislation related to guardianships, foster children, education and property taxes.
She received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Arkansas in 1987 and then received her law degree from the University of Arkansas Law School in December of 1989. After practicing law in Gravette for one year, McKenzie founded KBVA-FM in September of 1991. She spent the next 26 years programming and managing KBVA Variety 106.5.
In July of this year, McKenzie sold KBVA to another radio group and subsequently purchased the former Petra Stone property in Gravette. In the fall of 2017, she plans to open a manufacturing stone business with her husband Loyd, who is also a manager of a cattle and poultry operation.