User:Brandonrush/Vada Sheid

Vada Sheid was a politician from Mountain Home, Arkansas who served in the Arkansas General Assembly for 20 years; in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1977, the Arkansas Senate from 1977 to 1985, and returning to the House during the 79th Arkansas General Assembly. She is the first woman to serve in both houses of the General Assembly, and the first non-widow's succession woman to serve in the Senate. Known by constituents as "Miss Vada", she worked on behalf of Ozark Mountain residents with a focus on education and infrastructure projects.

Early life
Sheid was born on August 19, 1916 in Wideman, Arkansas; the only child of J. W. "Bill" Webb and Gertrude (Reynolds) Webb. She was named Vada by her maternal grandmother. Bill Webb was very involved in local politics, and took Vada to campaign events and gatherings as a child in Izard and Fulton counties. The family moved to Calico Rock in 1926 and attended school in the Calico Rock School District, including participating in school plays and debates. She graduated from Calico Rock High School in 1934 during the Great Depression among 12 other students. Her first formal political role was volunteering for John C. Ashley's bid for the 1936 Arkansas gubernatorial election. Ashley withdrew before the Democratic primary, but encouraged Sheid to run for office in the future. Following a housefire at the Webb home that burned the family's savings, Vada attended Draughon’s Practical Business College in Little Rock, Arkansas rather than a four-year college she had planned to attend, followed by a job as Izard County Welfare Director.

Return to the House
Sheid returned to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1993 to serve in the 79th Arkansas General Assembly.

Representative Ed Gilbert (D-Mountain Home) had sought re-election in District 40, but later revealed he lived outside the district and thus was ineligible. The local Democratic Party voted Sheid as Gilbert's replacement on September 11 for the November 3, 1992 election against Doris DeSousa. The Baxter County Republican Committee challenged the Democrats' ability to replace Gilbert in court.