John Thurston, Commissioner of State Lands

Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands, John Thurston, is the first Republican to be elected as Land Commissioner since the post became elective in 1874.  He is currently serving his first term in office after being elected in November of 2010.  John was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and was raised in Saline County, attending and graduating from Sheridan High School in 1991.  He attended Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas (Clark County) before graduating from Agape College in Little Rock with a diploma in Biblical Studies.  John was a licensed minister and was a Certified Religious Assistant in the Arkansas state prison system.  John served 13 years on the staff of the Agape Church in West Little Rock, where he also attends services, prior to his tenure as land commissioner.

John now resides in Little Rock, Arkansas (Pulaski County) with his wife Joanna and their five children.  He is also an avid outdoorsman.

John’s vision for the future is that the Commissioner of State Lands Office along with Arkansas government will lead the nation in the area of ethics and accountability.