Charlene Fite

Charlene Fite
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 24th district
In office
January 9, 2023 – January 13, 2025
Preceded byBruce Cozart
Succeeded byBrad Hall
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 80th district
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byLinda Collins-Smith
Succeeded byDenise Jones Ennett
Personal details
Born1950 (age 75–76)
Alma, Arkansas
PartyRepublican
SpouseTom Fite
Children6
EducationUniversity of Tennessee
University of Arkansas
Taipei Language Institute
ProfessionPsychology specialist

Charlene Fite (born 1950) is an American politician and former Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.

Early life and education

Fite was born in Alma, Arkansas. She has a B.S. in deaf education from the University of Tennessee in 2000, an M.S.Ed. in special education from the University of Arkansas, and attended the Taipei Language Institute.

Career

Fife is a retired school psychology specialist. She was first elected to the House in 2012 and was re-elected through 2024, when she declined to seek re-election. Her last campaign focused on economic growth; she favors less government regulation to help economic development. She is chairperson of the Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee; and, vice-chair of ALC-Hospital and Medicaid Subcommittee. Fite has served on the Board of Court Appointed Special Advocates in Crawford County, the Board of Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas, and the Board for Bost Development Centers.

In November 2025, Fite filed to challenge her successor Brad Hall in the Republican primary, alongside Melissa Koller. Hall withdrew days after the filing deadline.

Personal

She lives in Van Buren, Arkansas, and is married to Tom Fite, with six children and seven grandchildren. While in language school in Taiwan, she appeared twice on Chinese language television.

References

  1. 1 2 "Charlene Fite - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  2. 1 2 "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  3. 1 2 Wickline, Michael R. (November 13, 2025). "Hall drops House reelection campaign after divorce battle aired". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Vol. 11, no. 317. pp. 1A, 3A. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ DMM, Adam Roberts. "Charlene Fite wins Arkansas House race". KHBS. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  5. 1 2 "Representative Charlene Fite (R) - Arkansas State Legislature". www.arkleg.state.ar.us. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  6. ↑ "Charlene Fite". AY Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-16.