State Rep. Charlie Collins of Fayetteville abandoned his bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor Thursday, after U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin said he’s running for the post.
Collins, chairman of the state House Revenue and Taxation Committee, said he’ll run for a third two-year term in District 84 instead.
“As a sitting U.S. congressman, Tim has the name recognition and access to resources that make him a crystal clear favorite to win a GOP primary and general election, and that’s good for Republicans,” Collins said.
“Tim is smart and tenacious and he’ll make an outstanding lieutenant governor for Arkansas,” said Collins. Griffin has served in Congress since 2011 and as a former interim U.S. attorney and a former research director for the Republican National Committee.
Collins’ departure from the lieutenant governor’s race leaves state Rep. Andy Mayberry of East End, Rep. Debra Hobbs of Rogers and Griffin of Little Rock to battle for the Republican nomination.
Mayberry, who has served in the House since 2011, said he understands that “this is a big challenge to win the Republican primary. But I believe I can do so.
“My plan is to be the next lieutenant governor of Arkansas, the good Lord willing and people voting,” he said.
Mayberry said he’s a better candidate than Griffin in part because he has been working on state government issues for the past 3½ years “while Tim has been in Washington, D.C., dealing with other issues there, but he has been removed a lot from the issues that we are facing each and every day right here in the Arkansas Legislature.”
Hobbs said “as a citizen if I could choose between someone who brings Washington politics to the table versus someone who has been in the Legislature for the past five years and therefore understands the issues that affect everyday Arkansans and has been dealing with those issues, I would choose the one who has been in Arkansas.”
In response, Griffin said that he has routinely dealt with state issues, agencies and officials while on Capitol Hill in part because states seek and spend billions of federal funds.
“As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee I have had the honor of working on a number of issues including tax policy, Obamacare, trade, Social Security, Medicare and a number of state issues such as unemployment insurance, welfare and adoption,” he said.
Businessman John Burkhalter of Little Rock, a former state highway commissioner, is the only Democratic candidate for the job.
The lieutenant governor’s job has been vacant since Springdale Republican Mark Darr resigned Feb. 1, more than a month after the Arkansas Ethics Commission levied an $11,000 fine against him for 11 violations of ethics laws and regulations. Legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Beebe have said they plan to enact a law to forgo a special election for lieutenant governor this year. Voters will choose Darr’s successor during the Nov. 4 general election if the Legislature approves a bill to that effect.
Hobbs, who has served three terms in the state House, announced her departure from the governor’s race Wednesday to run for lieutenant governor. Two Republicans - former U.S.Rep. Asa Hutchinson of Rogers and businessman Curtis Coleman of Little Rock - are still running for governor, while one Democrat - former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross of Little Rock - is seeking the job held by term-limited Beebe, a Democrat.
While Collins was focusing on his short-lived lieutenant governor bid, others stepped forward to seek his seat in the Legislature.
Republican Jim Wilson, who lives south of Greenland and is regional administrator for the state Department of Health, and Washington County Quorum Court member Candy Clark, a Democrat from Fayetteville, had begun work on their campaigns in District 84.
Wilson ended his campaign after learning of Collins’ plans, but Clark plans to continue.
“Welcome to the race, Charlie. I am going to stay in it, ” she said Thursday.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 02/14/2014