Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1471720
"This gave us a common ground to share," Nolan said. In 1992, Lundstrum started Cypress Invest- ments, which focuses on rental properties as well as other areas like banks, in- surance, maintenance and taxes. Lundstrum said she named her company after the Lone Cypress in Cali- fornia. Lundstrum said she doesn't take a salary but instead reinvests it back into the business. Campaigning for others Lundstrum's career in politics did not begin with her campaign but rather that of her husband Tom's, she said. Robin Lund- strum campaigned for her husband, who ran for the Springdale City Council in 1988, she said. Tom Lundstrum won the race and became the youngest person to be - come a city council mem- ber, serving one term, she said. Following his time on the Springdale City Council he was on the state election commission from 1998- 2014, she said. It was during this time, Robin Lundstrum was encouraged to run for the State House of Represen - tatives, but she declined because her children were still young, she said. This did not stop her from cam- paigning for others, she said. "Robin was very active in raising funds for good candidates in Northwest Arkansas before she ran for office herself," Brown said. Lundstrum campaigned for a lot of justices of the peace as well as State Representative candidates Drew Morris and Mike Kenney, she said. Lund - strum also campaigned for former Arkansas Senator Fay Boozman, she said. "Every two years we worked on at least two or three races," Lundstrum said. "I never thought it would be me running for office." Running for office As Tom Lundstrum be- gan to focus on his busi- ness and Robin Lundstrum focused on Cypress Invest- ments, she also began to focus more on politics. In 2010, Robin Lundstrum was recruited to run for the Elm Springs City Council. The benefits were that it did not require travel and was only one night a week, Lundstrum said. It was a four-year term and taught Lundstrum a lot about politics, she said. "It helped me focus on being a good legislator," Lundstrum said. Still Lundstrum did not want to run for the House because it would mean be - ing away from her family, she said. As a representa- tive it would mean being gone for three months at a time and she did not want to do that to her family, Lundstrum said. In 2014, with her chil- dren being older, Lund- strum decided to run for the State House of Repre- sentative. she said. "We had a good state representative in Jonathan Barnett," Lundstrum said. "When he was termed out (term-limited) it was the right time to run." Lundstrum knocked on doors, sometimes two or three times, to let the com - munities know she was running for state represen- tative, she said. At the time, the popula- tion in Northwest Arkan- sas continued to grow and Lundstrum even then knew the district would have to be shrunk. In 2015, Lundstrum began her lat- est career as the Repub- lican state representative for State House District 87, which included Siloam Springs. "I can't believe the shy kid from Springdale is on the House Floor," Lund - strum said. Nolan said Lundstrum was a bit crazy to run for a state political office until she realized that Lund- strum's passion and con- victions and that her heart was to see that people were treated with respect. "It was always fun at Dogwood (Festival) to see her interact with every - one," Nolan said. "Those that disagreed with her stance on an issue and those who agreed with her always got the same warm interaction." Accomplishments Lundstrum has served for seven years in the Ar- kansas House of Represen- tatives and said she enjoys constituent services and taking care of her people, she said. Lundstrum also loves the bill process and the give and take. A major highlight has been adding an amend - ment to the Arkansas Constitution, she said. The amendment is re- garding Voter ID and that every person who votes is required to have a valid government ID, Lundstrum said. House Bill HB1112 was filed in early January of 2021 and primarily spon - sored by Representative Mark Lowery (R-39) and Lundstrum was one of the cosponsors of the bill, according to Lundstrum House of Representatives page. "It may start with one in - dividual," Lundstrum said. "But you have to get both houses to approve it. There is no 'I' in it anymore." Lundstrum also worked to amend unemployment compensation by lowering taxes on it and shortening the time; combat sex traf - ficking and a bill which allows out-of-state officers can cross over to arrest drivers if they appear to be impaired, Lundstrum said. Nolan said for a commu - nity like Siloam Springs to have anyone with the com- passion that Lundstrum has for all of Arkansas, but mainly the areas where she lives, is one of the main things that makes Siloam Springs a great place to live, work and raise a fam - ily. "I am fortunate to know Robin and watch and learn from her how I can better serve others," Nolan said. Lundstrum's most fa - mous bill is HB1570 which creates the Arkansas Save Adolescents From Experi- mentation (SAFE) Act. This act prohibits doctors from issuing people under the age of 18 puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hor- mone medications, she said. The bill is not meant to punish transgender teens, but rather protect them from a decision they may not be able to undo if they change their mind later on, Lundstrum said. "People of Arkansas had our backs," Lundstrum said. "I got more pink slips saying they are praying for me." Arthur Hulbert, the pres - ident and CEO of the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce, said while he has only known her for two-and-a-half years, he has collaborated with Lundstrum on constitu - ent needs and found her to be a kind, intelligent and strong person who is very responsive to people's concerns. Hulbert said he was helping a person in Siloam Springs start a limited li - ability company and the company's name was de- nied by the Arkansas Sec- retary of State. "I made a call to Robin and in less than 24 hours after my call to her the name of the company was approved and the person starting the new company was very happy," Hulbert said. "Robin moves at the speed of business." Lundstrum also served as the chairperson for the Audit Committee, she said. If a certain department is audited and there is a red flag, the director of the department has to explain what happened, Lund - strum said. "She is always available to her constituents, and at- tends many events in and around Siloam Springs," Brown said. "Robin has been a strong, conservative leader in the legislature." Looking ahead Now Lundstrum is run- ning again for state rep- resentative, but this time her district will not include Siloam Springs. Siloam Springs has now become part of House District 17 with Gentry, which will be under Rep. Delia Haak (R-91). Lundstrum will now have District 18, she said. District 18 will allow Lundstrum to keep most of her territory — except for Siloam Springs — but will now also include a small part of Fayetteville near Porter Road, she said. Despite not having Siloam Springs, Lundstrum will always have a warm feeling for the city. "I'm going to miss Si - loam," Lundstrum said. "But friendships don't change with districts." Siloam Proud Wednesday, June 29, 2022 n C3 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader www.shelterinsurance.com At Shelter Insurance ® , we're proud to have one of the soundest financial statements in the business. So if you like the idea of working with a company with rock solid financial footing, you've come to the right place. Ask me how our shield can help protect you! 1. 10-2019 We're your Shield. We're your Shelter. ShelterInsurance.com AUTO • HOME • LIFE ® The Strength of our Shield! Jimmy Allen Agent 816 S. Mount Olive St. Siloam Springs, AR 72761 479-524-4183 JAllen@ShelterInsurance.com www.shelterinsurance.com 1. We're your Shield. We're your Shelter. ShelterInsurance.com AUTO • HOME • LIFE ® The Strength of our Shield! Photo submitted State Representative Robin Lundstrum (R-87, left) poses with Allen Elementary School Teacher Monica Jackson during the Back to School Breakfast in the fall of 2019. LUNDSTRUM Continued from Page C1 PRIMAVERA Continued from Page C1 When asked about the future of the Primav- era Garden Club, all three members said the future looks great. "It's very good," Robin- son said. "It's a great out- look for our garden (club). People are interested in it." Several of the mem- bers have kept journals throughout the years and Martin said when she went to one member's house they found a scrapbook from another garden club from the 1950s. That club was called the Siloam Springs Garden Club, Martin said. She did not have a lot of informa - tion about the club but said the president of the club was Mrs. Wirick. Martin did not give a first name for Mrs. Wirick and also said she was not sure if these were sepa - rate clubs or if the Siloam Springs Garden Club be- came the Primavera Gar- den Club. Robinson said the scrapbooks are stored at the Siloam Springs Mu- seum. Club meetings are more like reunions, Robinson said. "There are so many dif- ferent members from all walks of life," Martin said. "When we get together it's like we are old friends. It is a good fellowship." Robinson added that the club is a support system for each other. "Even when we change people in our group and we have losses and gains and we're just there for each other," Robinson said. Holliday said the club is more of a social com - munity. Martin said some of the club's highlights are visiting the gardens of other members. Despite the variety of people and ages the group has found common ground in gardening, Robinson said. At the end of the year which is in May, the club does the garden tour by visiting each member's gar - den. At the end of the tour they all head to Martin's house for homemade ice cream, Robinson said. "Even though there is a variety in people and ages there is that common inter - est," Robinson said. "Each one has a different style of gardening." 441 Hwy 412 W Siloam Springs, AR 479-524-5131 wassonfuneralhome.com Our family helping your Family, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. 94 Years of continuous family ownership and operation by the Wasson family.