GOP Primary ‘Contentious’

The Republicans of Arkansas, along with their TEA Party hangers-on, are drubbing one another in these final days leading up to the May 20 Preferential Primary in Arkansas.

These inner-party battles can be a sign of growth as the GOP majority in both the State Senate and the State House of Representatives and of course in all four of the state’s Congressional Seats, are held by Republicans. Some people, however, want to change that Republican control to an “ultra” conservatism force — a move to the more radical right, if you will, of the Arkansas GOP makeup.

Infighting can also be a sign of quickly expanding as a party, one having to suddenly fight over its middle ground candidates and political philosophy.

Can there be a ‘moderate’ Republican elected in 2014? Maybe. But a qualifier to those questions may result from a “white-hot” contested state Senate race over in the Harrison-Mountain Home area. Will the winner of that race be as conservative as voters think?

There are two local GOP primary races, in particular, which will be affecting voters in Washington County. These races, too, focus on whether conservatives will prevail over moderates.

State Rep. Randy Alexander, 62, a Springdale Republican, is in the fight for his re-election life in District 88. Alexander, famous for his “raw milk bill” and often castigating the public school system in Arkansas (the same topic a majority of Republicans love to do) but it may cost him a seat in Springdale.

Challenger Lance Eads, 42, who was once appointed by a Democratic governor for an open Washington County Quorum Court seat, is being backed by not only his employer, the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, but also by the very politically powerful Springdale School Administration.

Who is more conservative? We shall see.

Another race, an open seat in District 87, that long skinny district reaching from Elm Springs (in Washington County) over to Siloam Springs (Benton County), involves two Republicans. Long time GOP volunteer and activists Robin Lundstrum, 51, is an Elm Springs City Council member and Lucas Roebuck, 39, of Siloam Springs, an employee of John Brown University.

This will be the second state house race for Roebuck who was defeated by double digits 16 years ago. Roebuck left the state to later return seeking this seat.

This will be Lundstrum’s first race where she is a candidate, but her lengthy resume of helping other prominent Republicans win elections is, well, legendary.

Both are touting themselves as Conservatives.

We shall see the outcome of these races and the non-partisan judicial contests next Tuesday.

The major races in the GOP for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer will be decided by Benton County votes. Even if a GOP candidate runs in 2nd place, losing the Benton County vote, but obtains 30-to-40 percent of the Benton County vote, it could translate into victory statewide.

Will the GOP turnout in NW Arkansas be enough to defeat the “thin” coalition of candidates from Little Rock, Benton, Bryant, Cabot and other central Arkansas Republican strongholds?

And will those GOP candidates with at least some legislative record, like state Rep. Andrea Lea of Russellville (running for Auditor) and state Rep. Duncan Baird of Lowell (running for State Treasurer), win out of these other hodgepodge of candidates with little or no public record to qualify them?

We will know, next Wednesday morning.

Be sure and take your photo ID to the polls with you, voting early or on Election Day, May 20.

And be sure to vote.