The Arkansas Family Council is a small, flexible organization that serves a massive, grassroots network. Most of the people who have helped us with our accomplishments over the years have been volunteers. However, we do have a few paid staff members who wear multiple hats around the office throughout the year.

Jerry Cox
President

Jerry is the founder and president of Family Council.  He began Family Council in 1989 after a successful effort to amend the Arkansas Constitution to prevent the use of public funds for abortions.  He is the founder of the Education Alliance, the Arkansas Physician’s Resource Council, and the Arkansas Justice Institute.  In 2004 he spearheaded a successful effort to amend the Arkansas Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.  In 2008 Jerry lead a successful effort to pass the Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act. Between fundraising, public speaking, leading the staff, lobbying, and writing, Jerry maintains an active role in ensuring that Family Council continues to serve the people of Arkansas as it has for the past 20 years. He and his wife reside in Little Rock. They have four sons.

Martha Adcock
Staff Attorney

Martha has worked as staff attorney for 14 years. In addition to reviewing and drafting legislation and lobbying the Arkansas Legislature, Martha also provides legal research and support for Family Council, the Education Alliance and FCAC and answers constituent questions.  Currently she is serving as local counsel in the lawsuit challenging Act 1.

Melissa Savary
Education Alliance Coordinator

Melissa has worked for the Education Alliance for 8 years. Every day, she serves Arkansas’ growing home school community by providing transcripts for graduating home schooled students or for home schooled students entering public or private education, providing free information for new and potential home school families, and coordinating multiple events such as the annual home school conventions in Searcy and Springdale.

Jill Wait
Book Keeper/Office Manager

Jill has worked with Family Council since 2006. Between processing donations, maintaining schedules, assigning tasks, coordinating volunteers, and overseeing mass mail-outs to thousands of households throughout the state, Jill makes sure that the office runs smoothly and effectively.

David Cox
Webmaster/Executive Director of the Family Council Action Committee

David is Jerry’s oldest son, and has worked for Family Council as a volunteer (and later as a paid staff member) off-and-on for much of his life. After graduating from college in 2007, David came to work for Family Council and the Family Council Action Committee (a sister-organization) full-time. When he isn’t assisting Jerry in running the Family Council Action Committee, David manages all of the office websites for Family Council, Family Council Action Committee, Education Alliance, the Physicians resource Council, and the Arkansas Voter’s Guide.

Tara Bond
Receptionist

If you call the Family Council office, chances are Tara will be the first person you talk to. Tara began working for Family Council in 2006. She assists in coordinating volunteers, managing mail-outs, and maintaining communications with our grassroots network.

Josh Mesker
Policy Analyst

Josh came to work for Family Council in January of 2009. Before that, he volunteered regularly, gathering signatures for the Arkansas Marriage Amendment and Arkansas Adoption Act petition drives. Josh manages research, assists with public relations and media communications, and helps develop and polish our talking points on various issues.