LITTLE ROCK — Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter of North Little Rock made it clear Friday that he intends to seek the Democratic nomination for governor for the second time in seven years, but it’s no surprise to Democrats.
Halter, a 52-year-old businessman, is a bit of a maverick, and that has irked the state’s Democratic establishment at times.
In January of 2006, Halter announced his challenge to then-Attorney General Mike Beebe for their party’s nomination for governor. But less than three months later, he decided to run for lieutenant governor instead, saying he would have been forced to attack Beebe to be successful in the primary and that was “unacceptable.”
After winning the lieutenant governor’s post in 2006, Halter led a successful campaign in 2008 to persuade Arkansas voters to approve a constitutional amendment authorizing a state lottery, which has raised more than $300 million for college scholarships.
Next, he challenged then-U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the 2010 Democratic primary, narrowly losing a runoff.
Since leaving the lieutenant governor’s office in December of 2010, Halter has worked in the private sector, serving on the board of directors for several technology companies.
Halter serves on the boards for technology companies called Cool Planet Energy Systems, Oversight Systems, Property Room, Rave Mobile Security and SCI Energy, according to Halter spokesman Bud Jackson. He is also an active trustee emeritus at Stanford University, Jackson added.
When asked about Halter running for governor, former state Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett said, “I think it is going to be a wide-open free-for-all [race for governor].”
Jeffress said Arkansas Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter of Little Rock told him last week that he also plans to run.
When asked Friday about that claim, Burkhalter said, “I have been very vocal that I am looking at this race very seriously,” but “I am not prepared to make that statement [declaring his candidacy].”
State Rep. Jim Nickels, D-Sherwood, who backed Halter in his challenge of Lincoln in 2010, predicted Halter will be a viable candidate. He pointed out that Halter defeated three former or sitting Democratic state lawmakers to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor before defeating then-Republican state Sen. Jim Holt of Springdale in 2006.
“I think he showed formidable campaign skills and the ability to raise funds necessary to run his campaign,” he said.
Halter reported loaning his 2006 campaigns more than $1 million in winning the lieutenant governor’s office. Earlier this month, he reported 2006 campaign debt of about $119,000 - money he lent to his own campaign.
As for Halter’s loss to Lincoln in 2010, Nickels noted that in 1972 then-U.S. Rep. David Pryor lost a challenge to Democratic U.S. Sen. John McClellan before he was elected governor in 1974.
Among other things, Halter is a former chief economist for the Senate Finance Committee. He also was an economist for Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, a staff member for Gov. Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, a senior adviser for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and deputy commissioner and acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
Front Section, Pages 9 on 01/26/2013