Hurst focuses on defending Social Security, Medicare

Democratic contender Q. Byrum Hurst, of Hot Springs, has focused on Medicare and Social Security protection while campaigning in the 4th Congressional District preferential primary runoff.

Hurst faces state Sen. Gene Jeffress, of Louann, in Tuesday’s runoff. The winner will face Republican Tom Cotton, of Dardanelle, in the Nov. 6 general election.

U. S. Rep. Mike Ross, D- District 4, who will complete 12 years in Congress this year, chose not

to seek a seventh term.

“I think the campaign is going real well. We’ve been pretty busy,” Hurst said, noting that one of his main goals is to try to motivate people to vote.

“We’ve been calling, as much as we could, all our supporters in all 33 counties ( in the 4th Congressional District) and trying to get around to seeing a lot of them, so we’ve been really busy.

“But, I like the way it looks. I think it looks good,” he said.

Hurst said he was not sure why there was such a low voter turnout in the May 22 preferential primary election.

“You hate to think that folks are that apathetic. The reports I’m getting on early voting in the runoff is that there is a much larger turnout than anticipated. Whether that will continue, I don’t know. Here in Garland County, there’s been a lot more,” he said.

If successful in the runoff and the general election, Hurst said he will concentrate on the protection of Social Security and Medicare when he gets to Washington, D. C.

“There has already been an effort to dismantle the Medicare system through what was described as the Ryan Budget, which basically changes Medicare to become a voucher system.

“I don’t believe that benefits the people who deserve Medicare. I think both Social Security and Medicare are very important programs that need to be preserved in the form they are in,” he said.

“And, contrary to the information that is being put out, they can be, but it does take work and being creative. It takes doing things that maybe we haven’t done in the past, and one of those things is to treat people fairly all the way around.

“That’s what I want to concentrate on – the protection of Social Security and Medicare – as soon as I get there, because I think that needs immediate response,” Hurst said.

With the 4th Congressional District taking in 33 counties in south and southwest Arkansas, Hurst said he would also focus on jobs and job creation.

“In order to do that, you also have to emphasize a couple of other things and that involves education, infrastructure, and stimulating businesses to either remain in the area or come into the area,” he said.

“We’ve got great potential in District 4. When I travel the district, I’ve noticed that a number of counties are starting to get together in coalition form,” Hurst said.

“Garland, Hot Spring, Clark and Pike counties have joined together in what they call the Metro Chamber where they attract businesses to a geographic area, and they understand there will be some residents that will move into the neighboring counties,” he said.

“Even though a business might be located in Hot Spring County, many of the workers will reside in Garland, or Grant or Clark counties. They are doing some great things and they need help,” Hurst said.

“They need to continue to do that. They need to continue to develop these coalitions and I think that will really improve the economy in the district,” he said.

If he defeats Jeffress, Hurst said the main thing he would try to do in his race against Cotton is to “make sure everybody in District 4 knows the difference between the two candidates.”

“We have chosen different lifestyles and I think it’s very important that I get my message out there as to the kind of person I am, that he is, our understandings, connections, and roots in our various communities, but particularly in District 4.

“I think you need to elect people to office who not only understand the constituents, but that also has enough experience in life that they understand hardship and difficulties in order for them to create ways to help people when they face adversity,” he said.

“You don’t want to elect people that have not had those experiences, that have chosen to only come back to Arkansas to take advantage of some political motivation.

“So that’s probably what I’ll concentrate on,” he said.

Early voting will continue from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. Monday at the Garland County Election Commission, 649A Ouachita Ave., National Park Community College, 109 Mid- America Blvd., and Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce, 4585 N. Highway 7.

Regular voting will be from 7: 30 a. m. to 7: 30 p. m. Tuesday at all 26 county polling locations.