Halter to enter governor's race

FILE: Bill Halter speaks to supporters after being defeated by Blanche Lincoln in the Democratic Senate runoff election Tuesday night at his election watch party at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock.
FILE: Bill Halter speaks to supporters after being defeated by Blanche Lincoln in the Democratic Senate runoff election Tuesday night at his election watch party at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock.

— Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter plans to run for governor, officials said Friday

A spokesman for Halter said in a statement Friday that the Democrat will file paperwork next week to create a campaign committee, a "necessary first administrative step towards a campaign for governor in 2014."

News of Halter's decision to enter the race came shortly before an expected announcement from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel that he is exiting it after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with an attorney.

“Over the holidays my family and I talked about the demands a campaign for governor would place on us,” Halter said in the statement. “We decided as a family that we are up for the challenge. That’s why next week I will take the first necessary step towards running for governor in 2014.

“During my campaign for governor I will put forward my plans and ideas to move Arkansas towards an even brighter future."

A formal announcement is planned later.

Democratic Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter also said Friday he's considering a run.

"I've made a decision in that race, but now is not the time to discuss that," he said Friday. "At some point in time, I'll make that announcement with my wife and my children."

Halter, elected lieutenant governor in 2007, is credited with being an influential supporter of Arkansas's push to create a statewide scholarship lottery. He made an unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate in 2010, losing in a primary runoff to incumbent Blanche Lincoln. Lincoln would go on to be defeated by then-Rep. John Boozman, a Republican.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

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