Reshuffling The Deck, 2018 Campaigns Spring Off To Fast Start

The political moves over the past two weeks have sent seismic shifts across the political landscape in Northwest Arkansas.

But grab hold of your seat cushion Gentle Voter, more moves are anticipated as the 2018 races for the Arkansas General Assembly and the state’s constitutional offices are now officially underway.

The first of the tremors of change sprouted down in Crawford County as veteran House member Charlotte Vining Douglas, R-Alma, from House District 75, a district that covers parts of Sebastian and Crawford counties, announced she was vacating her House seat after two terms (2013 and 2015) in the lower chamber.

Her public announcement left open her possible run for the state Senate seat or some other office. The announcement, in the words of another fellow Republican — was just “strange.”

Rep. Douglas, who suffered no major legislative defeats and seemed to be getting better at passing bills and understanding the legislative ropes — after a less than stellar start — was just giving up the safe seat.

And then rumors began to fly that State Senator Bryan King, R-Green Forest, who inhabits one of the most “fractured” senate areas — District 5 — which is a hodgepodge of parts of six counties (Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Sebastian and Washington) and all of Madison County, is retiring. King who is frequently at odds with the traditional press finally acknowledged he “might be” retiring.

Then out of the woods from House District 97, roars state Rep. Bob Ballinger, who will run for the open state Senate seat of King. Ballinger has a largely rural district encompassing parts of Carroll, Madison and Washington counties. Ballinger has been no stranger to the media, often espousing his law degree and his disdain for individual civil liberties.

But wait, this possible Douglas/Ballinger faceoff for the state Senate has certainly gone awry as Sen. King now tells sources he might not retire after all.

King served in the House 2007 to 2012 before moving to the Senate in 2013.

So put this race on hold, with the exception that candidates are waiting in the wings for Douglas’ seat.

On the Democratic side, veteran budget master state Sen. Uvalde Lindsey, D-Fayetteville, Senate District 4, announced he is indeed retiring. Lindsey has served in the House from 2009-2012 and the Senate since 2013.

After a 72-hour period of uncertainty, state Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, and a three-term House member from District 86, has announced he will indeed run for the state Senate seat for District 4, being vacated by Lindsey.

The announcement gave both Leding and state Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville, who holds House District 85 seat, pause to see who would jump to the open senate seat.

Whitaker has just been named Minority Leader in the House, after state Rep. Michael John Gray, D-McCrory, House District 47, won a narrow victory as state Democratic Party chairman. Whitaker backed Gray for the spot, abandoning his former support for Denise Garner of Fayetteville, who sought the party’s leadership role. Whitaker will stay put in his seat in District 85, for now.

Off in Fort Smith, embattled state Senator Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, senate District 8, which is a part of Sebastian County, has announced he will not seek re-election.

Almost immediately, two-term state House member Matt Pitsch, R-Fort Smith, trumpeted his candidacy for the Senate seat held by Files. Pitsch had emerged as one of the most successful and vocal of the GOP members on business and legislative issues. He is lacking the bark and bite of the other GOP members from the River Valley on religious and social issues.

There is a push by a Conservative wing of the Arkansas Republicans to oppose several sitting Republicans who were backed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, rather openly in the 2016 state races. There is promised “blowback” to these candidates, but nothing has surfaced to confirm this rumored intention spouted on Social Media.

We shall wait and we shall see as the days like expected summer heat rolls on.