Republicans to sponsor three candidate forums
The Republican Party of Garland County will sponsor three forums Republican and nonpartisan candidates prior to the May 24 primary election, Marcia Albaugh, RPGC chair, said in a news release.
“We want to give time for as many Republican candidates as possible to speak, answer questions and meet with voters,” Albaugh said. “We were able to accommodate many more people by having three separate forums.”
The first forum will be held at RPGC headquarters, 615 W. Grand Ave., on April 7 at 6:30 p.m.
The second forum will be held at the Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., on April 21 at 6 p.m.
The third forum will also be held at the library, on May 5 at 6 p.m.
The forums on April 7 and May 5 will be held after short RPGC monthly business meetings.
Albaugh said that the library has also sponsored a candidate forum on April 5 at 6 p.m. and that the RPGC “urges all candidates to participate.”
The RPGC and the library forums are free and the public is welcome.
The candidates who have committed to appear on April 7 are Washington County Judge Joseph Wood, a candidate for lieutenant governor; Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Gunner DeLay, a candidate for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 6; former state Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, a candidate for secretary of state; and talk show host Doc Washburn, a candidate for governor.
On April 21, Leon Jones Jr., a candidate for Arkansas attorney general, and Matt McKee, a candidate for state Senate District 6, will appear. On May 5, Jan Morgan, a candidate for U.S. Senate, and state Sen. Bill Sample, who is seeking election to newly formed Senate District 6, both have committed to appear.
Any Republican or nonpartisan candidates who would like to appear at the April 21 or May 5 events can call RPGC Secretary Jim Keary at 501-786-9206 or email jlkeary@gmail.com.
For more information about the library forums, visit http:// www.GCLibrary.com or call 501623-4161.
Wood is serving a second term as Washington County judge.
DeLay is a Sebastian County Circuit Court judge.
Williams, of Cabot, left the Senate in 2017 when he was appointed by President Donald Trump to represent the White House on energy issues in 16 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He is the former mayor of Cabot.
Jones has worked in the administrations of Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former Gov. Mike Huckabee is the former executive director of the state’s Fair Housing Commission. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and is a 2006 graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville.
McKee was elected justice of the peace in 2009. He has served as chairman of the Finance Committee for six years. He is the former chairman of the Republican Party of Garland County and during his seven-year tenure he worked to ensure all major elected offices and the majority of the quorum court seats are held by Republicans.
Morgan is a national conservative commentator.
Sample has served in the Senate since 2011 and in the state House of Representatives between 2005 and 2011.