MASK MANDATE lacks NWA Republican candidates’ support.

Democrats prefer earlier action

Editors note: The Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette sent a questionnaire to the 26 legislative candidates in our region in contested races. A questionnaire was chosen because of the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. Restrictions on gatherings curtail the usual sources of information to voters such as debates, forums and “meet the candidate” events.

This is the first of six stories on their answers. FAYETTEVILLE — Most Republican candidates running for the state Legislature in Northwest Arkansas either have reservations about the governor’s mask mandate or oppose it outright.

Most of their Democratic opponents wish he had imposed it sooner. The mandate is an effort to help contain the spread of covid-19.

The candidates gave their opinions in response to a questionnaire sent to 26 candidates in contested races in the Nov.

3 general election. The candidates receiving the questions are all in districts that include at least some part of Benton or Washington County.

The first question was: “Do you agree with the governor’s statewide mandate to wear masks? Explain when and how you came to your decision.” Full, unedited answers are available at nwaonline.com/election.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, announced a statewide requirement to wear masks in public places in July. The mandate took effect July 20.

The goal is to bring down the number of cases of covid-19, a virus that spreads primarily through droplets in people’s breath.

“While I believe wearing a mask might help slow the spread of covid-19, I do not think a government mandate is the solution,” Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, replied. “Business owners have the right to ask customers to wear a mask in their establishment. Those customers have a right to decide if they want to do business with those establishments. That’s how freedom works.”

Republican John Carr is running to replace departing lawmaker Rep. Rebecca Petty, R-Rogers. He said a mandate wasn’t the best way to get the public to wear masks.

“Most Arkansans want to be part of the solution and will voluntarily assist when informed and asked politely,” Carr answered. “Before the mask mandate, many individuals were social distancing on their own. Businesses were already becoming aware of the need of masks and had their employees start wearing masks. Then, they started politely asking their patrons to wear their masks as well.”

Jed Duggar is running against incumbent Democrat Rep. Megan Godfrey of Springdale.

“I believe wearing a mask can help slow the spread of covid-19,” he replied, but he opposed a mandate.

Delia Haak is the Republican running to replace Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville. Douglas didn’t seek reelection.

Haak favored communities making their own decisions based upon local conditions, given the wide differences and timing of the disease’s outbreaks. Wide-ranging mandates are often inappropriate and inconsistent, she said.

“State government should support the rights of local communities, businesses, churches, and schools to require masks as local conditions dictate,” Haak said.

Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, who’s the governor’s

nephew, supported the mandate.

He “told the governor before he announced it that it was necessary given the community spread that was clearly growing unchecked in Arkansas,” Hendren said.

Republican candidate Brian Hester is running against incumbent Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville.

“I don’t know how much masks work to prevent the spread of covid-19, but if it gets us Razorback basketball then I am all in on wearing a mask,” Hester said.

John LaTour is the Republican nominee against incumbent Rep. Nicole Clowney, D-Fayetteville.

“I agree we should all do all that we can to help every

Arkansas citizen live a healthy life,” he said.

LEGISLATURE LEFT OUT

Two of the three Republicans who said the Legislature should have had a chance to weigh in on a mask mandate are incumbents.

“Setting aside the issue of masks, any government mandate restricting the freedoms of individuals is always concerning, especially the precedent that it sets for future government control,” incumbent Republican Rep. Jim Dotson of Bentonville said in his reply.

Rep. Clint Penzo, R-Springdale, said he supports and practices wearing a mask.

“I would have preferred the decision to have been made by the Legislature rather than by an executive order,” he said.

Josh Bryant, a Benton County Quorum Court member running to replace departing Rep. Grant Hodges, R-Rogers, called the governor’s decision well-meaning, but overreaching.

“I believe the governor was doing what he thought was best for the greater good of Arkansans; however, the mandate via an executive order was an overreach of our liberty,” Bryant replied. “The order has resulted in confusion of its enforceability and has caused strife.”

Rep. Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren, represents a district that stretches as far north as Tontitown. “While I’d prefer that it hadn’t been a mandate, I certainly understand why that decision was made,” she said. “If we all do our part, the return to ‘normal’ will come more quickly.”

The two Republican candidates who confirmed they received the questionnaires, but chose not to respond, were Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, and first-time Republican nominee Kendon Underwood, who’s running to replace Rep. Jana Della Rosa, R-Rogers. Underwood defeated Della Rosa in the Republican primary.

DEMOCRATS IN FAVOR

None of the 12 Democrats who responded opposed the mandate.

“As soon as the data and research clearly showed that

masks drastically reduce the spread of the virus, I knew a mandate was a key strategy to accomplish our goal of saving lives,” Clowney said.

Michael Bennett-Spears, Lundstrum’s Democratic challenger, said Hutchinson should have acted sooner.

“Controlling the virus is the best way to support our economy, support our schools and to get back to our individual lives,” Bennett-Spears said.

Whitaker gave the mandate unstinting support. He is the secretary-elect of the House Democratic caucus.

“I was a supporter of the mandate very early on, as it became clear that public health experts agreed that it was one of the easiest and surest ways to contain the spread of the coronavirus,” Whitaker said.

Godfrey said she had long urged the governor to act on a mask mandate.

“I agree with the governor’s decision, and only wish he had acted earlier. It’s the right thing to do, both for public health and as a powerful statement that we are committed to care for our more vulnerable neighbors,” she said.

Kelly Ross Krout, also a Democrat, is running against Underwood.

“When it became widely understood that transmission was airborne and could be drastically reduced by the majority wearing masks, I was on board,” she said.

Jon Comstock, who opposes Bryant, was another Democrat who wanted the governor to act on a mandate earlier.

“I try to follow the covid news updates, and it seems without doubt that the single best efforts to contain or limit the virus involve using masks, social distancing and washing hands with soap and water,” he said.

Democrat Hawley Woods is running against Penzo.

“As soon as I began hearing about the virus, back in March, I had a high level of concern. I have friends who live internationally. I was pro-taking steps to protect ourselves from the very beginning,” she said.

Lou Reed Sharp is the Democrat running against Fite. Sharp understands people’s objections to masks, she said, but the threat to public health justifies the mandate.

“The government should not be in the business of telling people how to live their lives, unless it is an exceptional circumstance,” she said. “I think that a global pandemic that threatens our freedom to do business together, to congregate together, to worship together meets that bar.”

Nick Jones is running against Haak and believes the governor made the right decision.

“I agreed with the mandate when science showed us that masks can reduce the risk of spreading [or] catching covid-19 and help flatten the curve,” he said.

Ronetta Francis is challenging Sen. Bart Hester’s reelection.

“I was in agreement as soon as the mandate was issued,” she said. “Considering Arkansas declared a state of emergency March 11 and CDC recommended specific guidelines to help slow the spread, I thought the governor’s mandate was a very positive step in protecting Arkansans.”

Daisy Bonilla, who also supports the mandate, is the Democratic challenger to Dotson.

“I, along with the rest of the NWA Latinx Task Force, had an opportunity to meet with the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] when they were here. The CDC made a number of recommendations for reducing the spread of the virus, but the simplest one to follow is wearing a mask.”

Jene Huffman-Gilreath, the Democratic nominee seeking to replace Petty, also agrees with Hutchinson.

“I was an early adopter of masks, because my sister is disabled and immune compromised, and my parents are nearing 70 and my sister’s sole caregivers,” she said.

Ryan Craig of Prairie Grove is Hendren’s Democratic opponent for state Senate. At least four messages for him weren’t returned. A printed questionnaire mailed to his home address, as listed in his candidate filing, also wasn’t returned.