Richardson to challenge Douglas in GOP primary

BENTONVILLE — Scott Richardson of Bentonville, an Arkansas National Guard veteran of the Gulf War, is challenging Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville, in next year’s Republican primary, Richardson announced Thursday.

Douglas’ willingness to resort to increased taxes to pay for highway improvements and other purposes such as collecting the sales taxes due on purchases on the internet is Richardson’s main motive for challenging the threeterm legislator, Richardson said. Douglas announced his intention to run for a fourth term last week. He holds the District 91 House seat.

“I think Dan has done a good job. What I don’t agree with are his tax bills,” Richardson said Thursday. “We need to drive down overall spending before raising any more taxes.”

“Our current spending model is heavily weighted with federal subsidies creating a long-term liability we can’t afford,” Richardson said in his announcement.

The state does have longterm infrastructure needs such as highway improvement and expansion, Richardson said, but those needs would be better met by cost savings in overall government spending, adopting a long-term infrastructure plan and sticking to it rather than passing tax increases. Under the state’s current system, taxes for highways are spent by a largely independent state Highway Commission. “We need to redesign our budgeting process and provide legislative oversight to the overall process, reduce regulation and implement legislation requiring investment in the future of Arkansas,” he said.

Richardson served in the Arkansas National Guard’s 217th Maintenance Battalion during the Gulf War, according to his announcement. He received a technology degree from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville after that and is currently director of technology at a Bentonville-based engineering firm. He asked that his employer’s name not be used for this article. He said he has “significant experience in bringing together technology solutions to reduce costs.”

The primary is May 22 with the general election on Nov. 6. No other candidates have announced, but filing does not close until March 1.