Benton Courier - Metroplan honors Broadway with annual leadership award

Saline County officials were in Little Rock on Wednesday to honor one of their own.
Branching from their familiar territory, honorees said, provided a symbol of regional unity.
   State Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, was presented the Jack Evans Leadership Award at the Metroplan Board of Directors monthly meeting.
Saline County Judge Lanny Fite, a Metroplan board member, nominated Broadway for the award.
Metroplan is a regional transportation planning agen-cy in Central Arkansas.
Benton Mayor Rick Holl-and, who chaired the nominating committee, said he was happy to comply with Fite’s nomination.
“It was a very nice honor and I was surprised when the judge said he was going to nominate me,” Broadway said. “I’m very appreciative and it’s very kind of him.”
The award, named after the late Sherwood mayor, is given every year to an individual or organization for “outstanding public service in advancing sound planning and intergovernmental cooperation in Central Arkansas.”
Fite said anytime there is a problem in the community, “Shane is always first to show up. He’s always drawing people together.”
Other factors that contributed to Fite’s nomination include Broadway’s instrumental work on the Lakeview case that prompted the Legislature to address and improve education inequalities in the state. “Recently, with the annexation problems we had in the county, Shane helped calm troubled waters.
“He’s always working regionally and with economic development here and Little Rock and was instrumental in helping with the mega-site that we identified. I can’t tell you how much he helped with the new airport.”
The honor is especially gratifying to Broadway because it exemplifies something he frequently talks about. “When we look for growth and progress, we always do better when we work together,” he said.
When the community and region want to promote economic development, he said, “It’s very important to all be on the same page.”
“And that’s what I enjoy — getting everyone at the same table to look at issues and solving them.”
In addition to his legislative duties, Broadway is heavily involved with the Saline County Economic Development Corp., which earlier this year help secure a mega-site in Saline County. A mega-site is a location of 1,500 acres or more set aside for development by business looking for a location to build.
Broadway said he’s been fortunate to have elected officials who are easy to work with. “I’m very fortunate. Not all my colleagues can say that,” he said, especially with Fite. Broadway said he “does an excellent job with everything that is on his plate.”
   “I’m just part of a team. Each of us has a role. I’m just working on the state level and sometimes the federal level.”
   Jim McKenzie, executive director of Metroplan, said, “Sen. Broadway is one of the most deserving recipients to receive the award.” He said Broadway not only does “so many things to help Saline County, but he also helps us on the regional and state level.”
   The award has been given since 1992.

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