No ‘Fireworks’ From Duo Seeking Governor’s Office

POLITICAL ANIMALS VENUE BRIEF, BUT DIFFERENCES IN CANDIDATES ARE EMERGING

A record crowd of more than 200 gathered for the Northwest Arkansas Political Animals Club last week. What the crowd didn’t see or hear were squabbles between Asa Hutchinson and Mike Ross.

No one really expected that during the 7- 8 a. m. breakfast meeting drawing politicos from Benton and Washington County.

Still the candidates did give the record crowd some dialogue and substantive issues “to chew on” for the rest of the day on the 42nd day to the Nov. 4th General Election.

These two men will meet again on the state’s ABC affiliates next month and possibly then on a PBS sponsored exchange on the Arkansas Educational Television Network prior to the election. Neither mentioned the Green and Liberterian Party candidates and I doubt they ever will in this close race.

Some observations from that local meeting and differences between the candidates is in line here. So here goes:

ROSS: He still wants to be the “education governor,” and he is willing to implement far- reaching programs to better educate the basic Arkansas public school student that the results might not be seen for years. He talks about the “transformative power” of education.

HUTCHINSON: He wants to be the “jobs governor.” He says his goal is to give a one-percent of tax relief to the middle class. He also thinks we need to teach computer coding in high schools as a skill for more people to get jobs.

ROSS: Says a tax cut for middle income is coming, but it must be phased in as growth in state revenues is available. He says it will be like the cuts in sales taxes on groceries: gradual and effective.

HUTCHINSON: Says giving a $100 million tax cut, then balancing the state budget with funding education as his second priority is doable. He also says we must cut the “red tape” in granting such state issued certifications as air permits. Louisiana, he said, can issue an air permit for a manufacturing plant three months sooner than the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.

ROSS: Says he wants to be the governor for all of Arkansas. He will serve all Arkansans and be able to work with both political parties in the Legislature.

HUTCHINSON: “… to be elected as your governor will be of the highest calling for me.”

ROSS: He has never lost a race. Elected to the Nevada County Quorum Court, the Arkansas State Senate ( three times) and 4th District Congress ( seven times) before announcing his retirement a year ahead of the filing deadline for 2012. Until his last two races, Ross has always run against older opponents.

HUTCHINSON: He has never won a state-wide race. He has run three campaigns: 1986 against Dale Bumpers for U. S. Senate; 1990 against Winston Bryant for Arkansas Attorney General: and 2006 against State Sen. Mike Beebe for governor. He has always run political races against older candidates. He defeated a last minute candidate for 3rd District Congressman on the 1996 election, Asa was on the same ballot as his elder brother Tim, who was running for U.S. Senator. He was re- elected to the 3rd District Congressional seat three times. But in his third term he voluntarily quit as 3rd District Congressman, resigning on Aug. 6, 2001 to take a federal post.

Bo th c and id a te s lamented the $ 16 million spent in this race on political ads.

ROSS: “Some have been attack ads on me and my family.”

HUTCHINSON: “It troubles me that outside groups made these ads that Mike ( Ross) and I cannot control.”

A little more than a month until election day.

MAYLON RICE, A FORMER JOURNALIST HAVING WRITTEN BOTH NEWS AND COLUMNS FOR SEVERAL NWA PUBLICATIONS, HAS BEEN WRITING FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER FOR SEVERAL YEARS.