U.S. Senator Tom Cotton will be the keynote speaker at the Marion County Republican Committee’s annual picnic dinner, scheduled for Friday, September 18, at VFW Post 1341 in Bull Shoals, located at 1206 Central Blvd.
The event, themed “Happy 250th Birthday U.S.A.,” will kick off with a meet-and-greet at 4:30 p.m., followed by the program at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $60 per person or $360 for a table of six and can be purchased through the committee’s website at marioncountyarrepublicans.org or by mail.
State Representative Jason Nazarenko, who serves District 4, will act as the master of ceremonies. Organizers plan to include trivia, a 50/50 drawing, and gift basket ticket sales as part of the evening’s entertainment. One highlight is expected to be the committee’s prized barbecue basket. The event is casual, with the invitation encouraging attendees to wear jeans and boots.
Proceeds from the dinner will support Republican candidates and fund scholarships awarded by the Republican Women of Marion County. Last year, the organization awarded two $750 scholarships to students from Flippin High School and Yellville-Summit High School. Advertising space in the event program is also available for purchase, with rates set at $100 for a full page and $50 for a half page. Ads are being managed through Enterprise Printing in Bull Shoals and must be submitted by Friday, August 21. RSVPs are requested by Tuesday, September 1, through Karen Carter at 870-404-2065 or carter@yellville.net.
Senator Cotton, a Republican from Dardanelle, is seeking reelection this November. He won the statewide Republican primary in March with 81.6% of the vote and carried Baxter County with 83.1%. He is set to face Democratic candidate Hallie Shoffner, a farmer from Newport, and Libertarian candidate Jeff Wadlin in the general election. Shoffner secured her party’s nod with 78.2% of the vote in her primary.
Senator Cotton, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2015, chairs the Senate Republican Conference and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Throughout the year, he has made appearances at several Republican fundraising events across Arkansas, including those in Miller and Garland Counties.
Marion County, home to roughly 17,000 residents, has leaned solidly Republican in recent elections. Its county seat is Yellville, while Bull Shoals stands as its largest city. The dinner is a ticketed fundraiser for the county GOP rather than a public forum. Additional information can be requested via email at mcrepubcommittee@gmail.com or by mail at P.O. Box 937, Yellville, AR 72687.