Fred Love’s life is a testament to resilience, faith, and perseverance. From the start, his path was marked by challenges that could have broken many — but the strength and faith of his mother shaped the man he would become.
At just four years old, Fred survived a devastating car accident that left him with lasting injuries. Doctors doubted his recovery, yet through determination and the values instilled at home, he overcame those limitations. Growing up, Fred and his siblings knew poverty firsthand — a night spent in a car, meals split three ways, electricity cut off, close to the verge of homelessness. His mother, Sandra, carried them through with courage and the guiding principle Fred still lives by:
"Be in service to mankind"
Fred was raised at St. Paul United Methodist Church and on his grandparents’ 75-acre farm. His grandfather, a brick mason and farmer, showed him the dignity of labor; his grandmother taught him generosity and compassion. Those lessons — rising early, working hard, and caring for others — became the foundation of his character.
Education opened doors for Fred. Teachers like Patti Jolliff and Joyce Elliott pushed him to aim higher, ultimately leading him to Governor’s School and then to college. He worked his way through school — flipping burgers at McDonald’s, taking out loans, leaning on family support. Nearly flunking out, he turned things around when he discovered political science and his calling to public service.
At UALR, Fred met ShaRhonda, his wife of 24 years. Together, they raise their children, Fredrick II and Millicent, and worship as a family at Greater Second Baptist Church.
Fred’s career has always been about service. Through AmeriCorps, the Arkansas Food Bank, and Pulaski County, he saw firsthand how resources — when directed well — could change lives. At the Food Bank, he met families relying on backpacks of food to survive weekends. In Pulaski County, he learned how government could be a lifeline.
As a legislator, Fred turned these lessons into action. He delivered on his first campaign promise by building the Southwest Health Unit, then brought an Arkansas Children’s Hospital clinic to Southwest Little Rock. He spearheaded the Forest of Hope Family Justice Center, set to open in 2026, to provide support for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
Fred’s focus has always been the basics: making sure families can eat, children can learn, communities are safe, and neighbors have hope.
Faith. Hard work. Community. Education. These values, forged through struggle and strengthened by experience, guide Fred’s vision for Arkansas. He knows setbacks, but also the resilience needed to overcome them.
Fred Love is running for Governor to carry these values into the state’s highest office — to ensure every child has the chance to succeed, every family can thrive, and no Arkansan is left behind. His life proves that adversity can be turned into strength, and service can transform lives.
