The special primary election for the seat formerly held by Sen. Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, will be Jan. 13, Gov. Mike Beebe decided Friday.
The primary runoff election in Senate District 16, if needed, will be Feb. 10; the final vote is set for April 14, Beebe's proclamation said.
Senate District 16 includes Newton and Pope counties and parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Buren counties.
Two Republicans said they're running.
They are Russellville Constable Greg Standridge, who is the 47-year-old co-owner of CSI Insurance in Russellville, and former state Rep. Stan Berry of Dover, who has resigned as outreach coordinator for Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin's office, effective Dec. 2. Berry is 60.
In addition, Russellville businessman Thomas Akin, 61, said he's considering running in the Republican primary. In 2008, Akin ran as a Democrat in his loss to state Rep. Andrea Lea, R-Russellville.
Akin, who has business interests ranging from title insurance to poultry, said he decided to leave the Democratic Party to become a Republican a few weeks ago.
He said he has been a Democrat all of his life, but he's a fiscal conservative and "it doesn't seem there is any room in the party for people like me."
Standridge said he's running for the Senate because "I am a servant of the people."
"I am running for the position. I am not running against Stan," he said.
Standridge said he considers himself a conservative with "good moral values."
As a former president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas and Professional Insurance Agents of Arkansas, he said he's been active in legislative circles for many years.
Like Berry, Standridge has said it's premature to take a position on the state's public-option program, which uses federal Medicaid dollars to purchase private health insurance for low-income Arkansans.
Berry was a state representative from 2003-2009.
He formerly served on the Dover City Council and Dover School Board. He's a retired Century Tel manager who worked five years as a customer relations manager for Southwestern Energy Co.
"I enjoy serving the people, and I see ... potential problems for the state, and I want to be part of fixing them," Berry said shortly after Lamoureux resigned earlier this month. Berry could not be reached for further comment by telephone Friday afternoon.
Lamoureux isn't taking sides in the primary. "I am neutral," he said.
Lea, who was elected as the state auditor on Nov. 4, said she's not taking sides in the Republican Senate primary.
"I have to worry about an office," Lea said as she prepares to succeed Democratic state Auditor Charlie Daniels on Jan. 13.
Departing state Rep. Robert Dale, R-Dover, said he'll probably support Berry though he won't actively campaign for him; he called Berry his best friend. Dale starts work Jan. 12 as House chief of staff, replacing Gabe Holmstrom.
No Democratic candidates in Senate District 16 "have officially emerged so far," said Candace Martin, executive director of the state Democratic Party.
The period for party candidates to file with the secretary of state's office will begin Monday at noon and end Dec. 1 at 5 p.m., Beebe said in his proclamation.
Independent candidates are required to file certain documents with the secretary of state's office by 5 p.m. Dec. 1, and petitions in support of the candidates are due by 5 p.m Jan. 5. Write-in candidates also are required to file certain documents by 5 p.m. Dec. 1.
The filing fee is $7,500 for Republican candidates and $2,250 for Democratic candidates, according to party officials.
Lamoureux resigned, effective Nov. 10, from the state Senate to be Republican Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson's transition director and chief of staff.
He had served in the state Senate since a December 2009 special election and rose to Senate president pro tempore. He served in the state House of Representatives from 2003-2009, where he served as House Republican leader.
Lamoureux is an attorney who also had worked part time for the state Public Defender Commission.
With his seat vacant, the Senate is made up of 23 Republicans and 11 Democrats.
Metro on 11/22/2014