The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Frank Glidewell, who is term-limited and is running for the Arkansas Senate seat representing District 13.

Our ever-growing list of 2010 House races is over here.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Former state Rep. Ken Cowling, a Democrat, is announcing he’ll run for the District 21 Senate seat in southwest Arkansas, which is being vacated by term-limited Democratic Sen. Barbara Horn. House Majority Leader Steve Harrelson is also running for the seat.

Meanwhile, Paul White of Mountain View, a Republican, has announced he’ll run for the District 10 seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Paul Miller, who is term-limited. A couple of Democrats have also expressed interest in the seat.

Full text of both announcements is at the jump. For more on 2010 Arkansas races, click here.

Ken Cowling Announces Campaign for State Senate, District 21

Speaks of experience, service during day-long announcement tour of district, hometown celebration at night

During a day-long tour through Southwest Arkansas, Monday, former State Representative Ken Cowling launched his campaign for State Senate, District 21.  An owner of a local small business and active member of many community organizations, Cowling cited his long standing commitment to the communities of Southwest Arkansas as his primary driver for running.  Prior to serving in the State House, he was an educator, coach and school board member.

“I’m running for the State Senate because I believe the people of this area are our best resource,” said Cowling.  “We need a tough legislator who will take tough stands, and with my business, legislative and community service experience I will be a strong voice for Southwest Arkansas.”

While in the State Legislature—between 2001 and 2006—Ken was recognized as “Legislator of the Year” by several organizations and as “A Special Friend of Children” by the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition for his work in support of his constituents and all Arkansans.  During his first term, Ken was one of three Representatives who held strong while calling for funding for school nurses, Meals on Wheels and home health services to be included in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.  All three were funded.

He also helped to secure funding to save early childhood education programs, which have been named number one in the nation since, and worked to ensure that Southwest Arkansas schools were treated fairly by school consolidation legislation.

Ken was a forerunner in cutting taxes for industry to help create and maintain jobs, introducing legislation to reduce the taxes that industrial employers pay on the energy they use in manufacturing.  Those taxes have, in subsequent Legislative Sessions, been cut by two-thirds.

“As a local business owner, I understand this economic climate and the stress it has put on Arkansas families and businesses,” Cowling said.  “You can count on me to have an open ear on every issue, especially when it comes to helping move our economy forward.”

Cowling is a past president of the Arkansas State School Board Association, past chairperson of the Governor’s Council for Gifted and Talented Students, area representative for the Arkansas Good Roads Council and former zone chairman of Ducks Unlimited.  Locally, he has served as past president of the Foreman School Board, past president of the Little River Chamber of Commerce, and director of the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council.

“I was born here and I’ve lived here my whole life; I know the values held by the residents of Southwest Arkansas,” Cowling said.  “I’m embarking on this cross-district announcement tour to kick off a campaign that will be centered around an open dialogue with those who live in the district, to find out what issues are important to them.  My pledge, if elected, is to be a strong voice for Southwest Arkansas.”

Throughout the day, Ken was flanked by his family, including wife, Elaine, who he referred to as his “hero and rock,” and son, Kevin, who is vice president of the family business.  Elaine and Ken now live in Texarkana and are members of the Beech Street Baptist Church.

The announcement tour stopped in Ashdown, Texarkana, Lewisville, Taylor, Fulton, McNab, and Horatio, finishing off with a coming home celebration in his hometown of Foreman.

Cowling is running in the Democratic Primary to replace State Senator Barbara Horn, who is term limited and cannot seek reelection.

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PAUL WHITE ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR ARKANSAS STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 10

Mountain View Businessman Throws Hat in Ring

Paul White, business owner and resident of Mountain View, recently declared his candidacy for State Senate, District 10. Paul Miller, Democrat and current State Senator from District 10, is term limited in 2010.

District 10 encompasses Fulton, Izard, the northwest portion of Independence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties.

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Post from: The Arkansas Project

While we’re at it, columnist John Brummett had a fine weekend piece taking apart the “puffed-up” speaker.

And perhaps the best Downfall parody of all is right here. (H/T Reason Hit ‘n’ Run blog)

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Hutchinson also has a new campaign website for your enjoyment.

Oh, did you think that headline had something to do with the recent “Asa Hutchinson for U.S. Senate” rumor floated by our friend Roby Brock? Guess I really faked you out on that one, didn’t I? Sucker.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Rep. Dan Greenberg, who along with House Minority Leader Bryan King and Rep. Ed Garner has been vocal in opposition to Wills’ scheme, has a good post below where he notes that Wills chalks up the whole dang mix-up to a “mistaken paraphrase” of his intentions by a reporter.

Said reporter, John Lyon of the Arkansas News Bureau, has kindly posted the transcript of his recorded interview with Wills, who clearly states in the transcript that the goal of the office is to “advocate the objectives of the leadership of the House of Representatives.” See for yourself.

And by the way, invaluable Arkansas Project commenter ddubb asks below, If the House leadership is so committed to open communication from legislators to the public, why did they try to shut down GOP Rep. Mark Martin from blogging committee hearings just last month? Excellent question, ddubb!

Post from: The Arkansas Project

House Speaker Robbie Wills

I spent a good deal of time with radio, TV and print journalists Wednesday discussing Arkansas House Speaker Robbie Wills’s proposed changes to the House Information Office. Somewhere in the middle of these conversations, he called me to clarify his plans and his views. So let me help him clarify matters.

Tuesday afternoon, Robbie sent out a news release which said “Information Offices, by their nature, occupy themselves with the distribution of neutral, non-partisan facts … The [new] House Communications Office will take information services a step further by becoming a more effective advocate for the House and its membership.” Wednesday, Robbie said that his use of the word “advocate” had been misinterpreted, and that the office would equally serve all House members, regardless of affiliation.

Wednesday morning, according to the Arkansas News Bureau, Robbie’s new mission for the office was to “advocate the objectives of the House leadership.” Wednesday afternoon, Robbie said that the Arkansas News Bureau story was a mistaken paraphrase, and that concerns that the office would favor the House leadership were unfounded.

I take the speaker at his word. I believe him when he says he will make every effort to make the office work for the benefit of all House members, not for the benefit of any particular member or point of view.

But it seems to me that Robbie must be considerably more careful when he describes new missions for the House Information Office, especially if these new missions might suggest a departure from the office’s traditional mission of serving as a neutral and nonpartisan source of information. (I think Robbie might even agree with me on that.)

I discussed the reasons for this at my press conference yesterday, which include the fact that employees take their cues from the example at the top. I think Robbie also needs to be more careful about his statements about the agreement of “all the Republicans that are in leadership,” given that he apparently was referring only to the committee chairmen that he appointed, as opposed to (say) vice-chairmen of committees like myself or House Republican Leader Bryan King.

Furthermore, it still seems obvious to me that giving the office the job of advocacy in any sense is a large policy mistake, given that it opens the door to a taxpayer-funded office which will express political views without any accountability at the ballot box. If Robbie genuinely feels that there is institutional advocacy that must be made (his example: suppose the House passes a bill, but the Senate is dragging its feet?), I would suggest that the speaker or an individual member could carry that burden, rather than assigning it to a faceless, taxpayer-funded, and politically-unaccountable bureaucratic office.

Each member of the House has interests, and it’s a mistake to pretend that the House’s interests are separate enough from those individual interests that we need to deputize an additional political spokesman, who voters will never be able to confront at the ballot box, for the entire body.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that Democratic House Speaker Robert “Robbie” Wills’ new plan to set up a new ministry of propaganda communications shop for the state House of Representative has not gotten off to an auspicious start.

Here’s the score: Wills announced yesterday he was changing the name of the “House Information Office” to the “House Communications Office,” and he contracted with a private vendor to provide communication and advocacy services for the House leadership.

Media watchers and House Republicans object to Wills’ high-handedness and have kicked up an uproar. (Arkansas Project contributor Rep. Dan Greenberg’s holding a press conference to discuss what’s wrong with the scheme at the Capitol at 3 p.m.)

Wills is paying the contractor, Craig Douglass, a monthly sum of $5,000 plus a additional 15 percent commission for additional contracting work, plus expenses.

In the interest of cleaning up this mess, I’m going to put myself forth to help Wills out, and I’ll only demand $2,500 per month for my services, which will mostly entail me sitting around the office and smacking Robbie upside the head with a rolled-up magazine every time he comes up with another stupid-ass idea like this.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

For our running tally of who’s running for the House, click here. (Let me know if you see any names missing from the list—it’s a work in progress.)

Thrailkill Announcement News Release

Krystal H. Thrailkill recently announced her intent to run for the Arkansas House of Representatives for District #22, the position currently held by Representative Bill Abernathy. Abernathy’s term concludes at the end of 2010.

Dr. Thrailkill is currently employed by Rich Mountain Community College as the business department chair.  She is actively involved in multiple community organizations , including various leadership positions and works a business consultant.  Dr. Thrailkill currently serves the Democratic Party on the Polk County Central Committee, and the Arkansas Federation of Democratic Women as Polk County president, and fourth Congressional District Director.  She serves the state party as an officer, the Democratic National Committeewoman for Arkansas.

“I enjoy working with people, and believe I can have an immediate impact when elected to the legislature.  The relationships I have with party leaders and current legislators can help me be effective for our district.  No one should seek public office with a personal agenda.  My agenda will be developed as I listen to the people. I consider myself a centrist, and agree more often than not with Mike Ross on many topics. I believe that economic development is one of the most important issues in our region, and I would make that a priority.  While I know so many people in the area, I am looking forward to meeting more as the campaign progresses.

Dr. Thrailkill is a two-time graduate of the University of Arkansas, and also Arkansas Tech University, and Henderson State.  She is married to attorney Danny Thrailkill, and they have three children, one of whom is training for a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  They reside in Mena.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

On this page, I’ve compiled a list of all 100 state House seats and their current occupants, along with some names of potential candidates. I intend for this to be a running list that we’ll develop over the coming months.

A few caveats:

1) This list is terribly incomplete. There are certainly candidates who have announced they’re planning to run or are rumored as candidates that I haven’t listed here. I largely put this list together from memory and from pulling together info from other blogs, so it’s not a comprehensive listing at this time.  Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message at david(at)davidkinkade(dot)com and I’ll add them to the list. This will be an ongoing project, so we should be able to develop a reasonably authoritative list in the weeks and months to come.

2) The list is terribly ugly. This is pretty utilitarian stuff—just a long list of seats and names. I might find a way to make it more aesthetically appealing in the future, but for now, let’s just get the information down in one place where it can be easily found. We can worry about making it pretty later, if necessary.

3) The list may include an occasional typo or error. If I’ve misspelled a name or misidentified a party label, let me know. It’s not meant to be perfect right out of the gate—we can clean it up as we go.

If you’ve got information to add or a correction to offer, drop it in the comments, or contact me directly.

We’ll also have pages for Arkansas Senate, constitutional officer races, and U.S. Senate and House races in the next few days, but let’s start with this for now.

(Thanks to Blake’s Think Tank, The Tolbert Report, The Arkansas Times and Under the Dome, as I used info from your blogs as references on several of the entries.)

UPDATE: Thanks to all who have sent in candidate names that were not included on the original list; I’ve been adding new names throughout the day. Keep ‘em coming.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Bryan King and John Burriss

I don’t know I’ve seen this reported anywhere else yet, but word around town is that freshman GOP Rep. John Burris has thrown himself up as a candidate for the minority leader slot in the state House of Representatives. The position is currently held by Rep. Bryan King, who says he hasn’t decided if he’ll seek re-election to the post but will decide later in the year.

King says the minority leader election is typically held in June, but given that the legislature will meet for a budget session in early 2010, he may move the vote to an earlier date. Others may be eyeing the post, as well.

Post from: The Arkansas Project