Hutchinson takes flyby of drone mostly in stride

Asa Hutchinson was in a boat on Lake Norrell when he heard buzzing overhead.

Hutchinson, the Republican nominee for governor, realized he was being filmed by a video camera on a unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, as he waited for the Lake Norrell Boat Parade to begin July 5.

“It’s a little bit comical because you’re out in the middle of a lake,” said Hutchinson. “You’re getting ready for a boat parade so it’s a public event, but still you’re in the middle of lake. Then you hear a buzz and here’s this surveillance drone. At first you think this is cool and everybody waves at it. But it doesn’t go away. … Then it becomes a constant monitor.”

Since he’s followed regularly by video “trackers” at campaign events, Hutchinson assumed the drone might be the work of a tracker.

“Whether it was a news station or somebody else doing it, that’s the new world of technology combined with politics,” said Hutchinson.

Turns out the drone was operated by a photojournalist for Little Rock television station KATV, Channel 7. It was there to get footage of U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, who was in another boat and knew the drone would buzz by. (The video can be seen on youtube.com/watch?v=lH3bteHqWkE at the 4:30 minute mark)

Jeff Bechdel, a spokesman for America Rising, said the organization isn’t using drones. Getting audio while drone propellers are whirring could be problematic, he said.

“I don’t think we’re there yet,” said Bechdel. “Talk to me in four or five years.”