Campaign chief quits on House challenger

Exit 2nd in Democrat Ellington’s run

— Democrat Scott Ellington’s campaign has lost its second campaign manager in less than two months, six weeks before Election Day in the 1st Congressional District.

Political observers said the latest turnover signals turmoil in an already underdog congressional campaign.

Mark Warren, a Washington, D.C.-based political consultant who took over as campaign manager in late July after Mariah Hatta left the post, exited Ellington’s campaign on Thursday.

Warren was paid by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Previously, the organization had said it viewed the 1st District as winnable. Warren’s arrival signaled to many political observers that the national party would put significant resources into the race.

Ellington said Tuesday that Warren’s exit wasn’t worrisome.

“I don’t think it’s trouble. It’s about the 1st District and it’s about moving forward in our campaign, we’re fluid and mobile,” Ellington said.

Ellington described Warren as a political “fixer” who ironed out some organizational problems. The national party “redeployed” him, Ellington said.

Warren didn’t return a phone call requesting comment. Neither did the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Warren, who had run the committee’s Red-to-Blue program in the 2010 election cycle, which focused on gaining Democratic seats in tossup districts, had concentrated on raising funds for Ellington, who badly trails incumbent Republican Rick Crawford in fundraising.

In the last campaign financial reports through the end of June, Ellington had just $31,105 in cash on hand compared with Crawford’s $616,956.

In late August, Ellington told the Paragould Daily Press that if he was able to raise $200,000 on his own by the end of August, the committee would contribute up to $500,000.

On Tuesday, Ellington said he wasn’t sure how much money he’s raised or how much he has on hand, but when asked if he was confident in his chances to win the race, answered succinctly: “Oh, yeah.”

Ellington said his campaign wasn’t focused on money, but on getting votes.

“The Republican is always going to have more money,” he said.

Ellington’s public announcement of possible national money in August wasn’t a “good strategic move,” said Richard Wang, an Arkansas State University political scientist.

“Ellington’s a good candidate, he gets out there and works at it, although he didn’t quit his day job,” Wang said. “Now it doesn’t look like he’s getting the money, and he looks like an insider.”

Hendrix College political scientist and Democratic Party activist Jay Barth said for a congressional campaign to switch campaign managers twice, especially so close to the election, is a sign of “dysfunction.”

“It’s almost never a good reason that’s happened,” Barth said.

Ellington was scheduled to attend a Prairie County fundraiser Tuesday. A Little Rock fundraiser is scheduled for today.

“Ask me Thursday,” said Ellington when queried about his campaign’s financial health.

Last month, Crawford said national Democrats had to make a decision whether they would pour enough money into the race to make it competitive instead of a “ceremonial gesture” in the 28-county district that covers most of east Arkansas, stretching into the Ozarks.

The Jonesboro agricultural broadcast network owner said his party was committed to keeping the seat, which he captured in 2010 for the GOP for the first time since Reconstruction.

Brad Ferguson, Crawford’s campaign manager, declined comment Tuesday on Warren’s departure.

Hatta’s departure was described by she and Ellington as a mutually agreed-upon move to allow her to focus on her state legislative candidates. Warren said at the time that her exit was “inside baseball” that wouldn’t influence voters.

Brian Richardson is now acting as campaign manager, Ellington said.

Richardson has already been working for the campaign as field director paid for by the national party, Ellington said, adding that Richardson will now be paid by Ellington’s campaign.

Richardson’s father, Ronnie, has worked for former congressmen Bill Alexander and Marion Berry.

“Brian has cut his teeth on 1st Congressional District politics,” Ellington said.

Ellington scored an upset victory over state Rep. Clark Hall in the June Democratic party runoff. Ellington said Tuesday that Hall had raised more money than him, yet he still won.

“I feel like we’re on track,” he said.

Arkansas, Pages 12 on 09/19/2012

Upcoming Events