BENTON -- The Republican Party's State Committee re-elected party Chairman Doyle Webb of Benton on Saturday as Republicans reveled in their historic gains in the Nov. 4 election as well as the opportunities they'll have in governing the state.
"It has been 12 years since a Republican governor in Arkansas has had an inauguration. I think it is time for a party in this state," Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson said.
"I see people who have labored in the trenches for decades and who have now achieved what we've all worked for, which is a red state, a Republican state," Hutchinson told more than 150 people attending the GOP's first State Committee meeting in Benton.
In the Nov. 4 election, Republicans regained control of the governor's office, won the other six constitutional offices, ousted Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, kept the four congressional seats, and increased their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Webb, an attorney who is a former state senator and chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, has been the party's chairman since December 2008 when he narrowly defeated Joseph Wood of Fayetteville, the party's treasurer at the time.
As chairman, Webb's salary is $60,000 a year, plus he's eligible for a bonus of up to $38,500 a year.
Before Webb's re-election Saturday, Hutchinson told the party faithful that "we need to have the continued leadership of Doyle Webb as chairman of our party."
He said he wants Webb to work on building county committees because "as we've become the majority party, sometimes there is a temptation to neglect the work of the party and, as governor, I want to make sure you continue to build, and we support your county committees."
Now that Republicans control the county election commissions for the first time, Hutchinson said Republicans "have an opportunity, as all the other things that are going on, to look at the election law in Arkansas just to see how we can improve it together, and it takes the leadership of the chairman working with other party leaders as well."
The State Committee also re-elected in uncontested races Duane Neal of Bentonville as first vice chairman; Robin Lundstrom of Springdale as second vice chairman; John Parke of Little Rock as treasurer; and Jennifer Parks of El Dorado as secretary.
When the Legislature convenes Jan. 12, the House will have 64 Republicans and 36 Democrats. The Senate will be made up of 23 Republicans and 11 Democrats, with a vacant seat being sought by three Republican candidates and no Democrats.
With the party having more state representatives, Webb said it needs more space for meetings. The party's Executive Committee on Friday authorized the purchase of an additional building, west of the party's headquarters at 1201 West Sixth St. in Little Rock, for $120,000, he said. The new building includes a 1,800-square-foot room in which more than 100 people can meet, he said.
House Republican leader Ken Bragg of Sheridan said he's "heard a lot said about why we gained so many seats, that [President] Barack Obama had a lot to do with that. I don't believe that."
He said 33 of the 64 House Republicans aren't incumbents, and they "gained their seats because of the conservative principles that they stood on and displayed in their election" as well as "hard work and knocking on the doors."
Hutchinson said Republicans "have a new challenge ... to govern well, to think large and not to underestimate the good that we can do for the people of this state."
"The challenge and mantle of leadership is upon us, and we have to take seriously my effort to lower the income-tax rate in Arkansas," Hutchinson said, referring to his proposed $100 million break for the middle class.
Hutchinson added that his "Asa plan ... includes more emphasis on career education in our schools" and would "reduce regulation and grow our economy and allow us to create jobs in this state for the next generation."
Attorney General-elect Leslie Rutledge of Little Rock told Republicans that she wants to work with lawmakers to make sure that "when we pass that good conservative legislation ... that they will be upheld when challenged in the courts."
"I look forward to carrying the case upholding our definition of marriage between one man and one woman," she said. Last month, a federal judge overturned Arkansas' gay-marriage ban. "I look forward to taking on the EPA and joining those lawsuits."
U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers told fellow Republicans that he's "especially happy not in becoming [Arkansas'] senior senator, but because of your hard work in getting rid of [Nevada Democrat] Harry Reid" as U.S. Senate majority leader.
Pryor, the state's senior U.S. senator, was ousted by GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton of Dardanelle. With Republicans gaining control of the U.S. Senate, Kentuckian Mitch McConnell will become majority leader.
The GOP's National Committeeman Jonathan Barnett of Siloam Springs advised the Republicans that "I don't think you've seen the last of Mike Huckabee. I think you may see Mike a little bit here in the near future, and I am looking forward to that."
Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who made an unsuccessful bid for president in 2008, has said he is considering running for his party's nomination for president in 2016.
Barnett also said Arkansas might hold its presidential primary in March because some other Southern states want to hold a presidential primary on the same day.
Afterward, Webb said he would find out during the Republican National Committee meeting in mid-January if "there is really a Southern primary developing. And if there is a Southern primary developing, we will ask the Legislature that Arkansas join in the Southern regional primary."
Florida, Georgia and Texas are among the states that might participate in the regional primary in March, he said, adding that Arkansas' other primary elections would continue to be held in May under this option.
Metro on 12/07/2014