Candidate calls rival insider

Don’t let D.C. Republicans pick state leader, he urges

— A Republican candidate in the 2nd Congressional District is challenging central Arkansans to contribute to his campaign to “help stop Washington from choosing our next congressman,” a reference to the support his opponent has received from four top Republican leaders.

Little Rock restaurant owner Scott Wallace painted opponent Tim Griffin as a Washington insider Wednesday even as Griffin, a Little Rock attorney, reaped the benefits of a fundraiser held for him at The Capitol Hill Club in Washington.

The fundraiser was held by U.S. House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California.

Griffin used to work in Washington as an aide to President George W. Bush and worked with Bush adviser Karl Rove, and is a former interim U.S. attorney in Little Rock, having been appointed after Bud Cummins of LittleRock was pressured to resign to make way for Griffin.

In their latest campaign-finance reports, Griffin reported raising substantially more money than Wallace, $390,535 to $37,261.

Wallace said he is appealing to central Arkansans to contribute $25 or $50 each to his campaign in the next few days. He said “virtually all of [his] campaign funds” have come from within the district, while “a large portion of Griffin’s has come from Washington lobbyists and influence peddlers.”

“It is time to break the cycle of Washington lobbyists and insiders handpicking our representatives and for central Arkansas to let them know that this is ‘our’ seat, and the voters here will be the decision-makers, not D.C.,” said Wallace.

Griffin disputed Wallace’s contention that “a large portion” of his funds have come from Washington lobbyists and influence-peddlers.

“I am proud that we have raised many, many times more 2nd District and Arkansas contributions than my opponent,” Griffin said.

Like U.S. Sen. Scott Brownof Massachusetts, Griffin said he welcomes the support of conservatives all over the nation, and his campaign has raised about $500,000 so far.

“The vast majority has come from Arkansas, approximately 70 percent, as of the last filing, came from Arkansas and approximately 5 percent from people who work in government affairs,” Griffin said.

So far, four Democrats have said they’ll seek the post being vacated by outgoing U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder, a Democrat from Little Rock. They are state House Speaker Robbie Wills of Conway, state Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock, Assistant Attorney General John Adams and Snyder’s former chief of staff, David Boling, of Little Rock.

The filing period for federal candidates starts at noon Monday.

Arkansas, Pages 16 on 02/28/2010

Upcoming Events