slater became a research assistant to the state judiciary committee of the arkansas constitutional convention in 1979–80, an assistant attorney general for the state of arkansas in 1980. he was appointed to several state government positions in arkansas by bill clinton. positions included assistant to the governor between 1983 and 1987, and member of the arkansas state highway commission between 1987 and 1993. slater was also the director of governmental affairs for arkansas state university during that time.