Tired of those nonstop negative commercials on television? Tired of the name-calling in the radio ads? Tired of hearing "I approved of this message" when said message should not only have been disapproved, but denounced? Tired of reading commentators who are shocked, shocked by all of the above?
Well, there's relief in sight. Just take a minute to read about the race for state auditor.
"Regina and her husband are really nice people, and I walk up and give them a hug when I see them now."
Can you believe it? That's one candidate for state auditor--Andrea Lea--talking about another, Regina Stewart Hampton.
Seriously. This is not a race for U.S. Senate. This is Arkansas--and what a basically nice place it is. As people like Andrea Lea remind us.
Andrea Lea always was disarming. Even in interviews with inky wretches. One minute you're talking policy, the next your guard is down and you're calling her Andrea, as if you had been on a first-name basis for years. Yes, it may be hard to remember in this Season of Ill Will, but there are people like that still walking around free. The kind of people who put everybody at ease, even ever-suspicious newspaper types.
But that's not why we're endorsing Andrea Lea today. She's held offices on the city, county and state level over the years, most recently serving as a state representative from Russellville. In that last role, she chaired the State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee, serving on the (1) Budget Committee, (2) Revenue and Taxation Committee, and (3) Legislative Council Committee, just to name three. The lady knows her stuff, but that's never stopped her from being a lady. Now she's ready to take on the job of state auditor.
Speaking of ready, her main opposition is the Democratic nominee, the aforementioned hug-ee, Regina Stewart Hampton, who worked in the auditor's office before taking a leave of absence to run for the elected job. So the state might be a sure winner in this race. (Also in the race is Libertarian and software developer Brian Leach.)
No, it's not the most newsy constitutional office, state auditor, but neither is it some temporary stop for a climber on the way up. Or, even worse, deadwood seeking another few years in office to qualify for the maximum retirement pay. The state auditor cuts those checks needed to pay the state's bills. The auditor sits on a couple of boards that oversee funds for public employees, and keeps track of appropriations (and payroll) for all state agencies. Then there's the state's unclaimed property, which you might remember from the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt.
As a state representative sitting on key committees, Andrea Lea helped pass legislation to shore up the state's retirement funds. She also pledges to run a transparent office, a goal near and dear to the heart of any news type, or just anybody who cares about how government spends your tax money. (We'll remember her pledge.) And the need for transparency in all the state's constitutional offices has only been reinforced by the tricks a corrupt state treasurer tried to pull--and was convicted of.
It's a pleasure to wholeheartedly vote for a candidate every now and again, and not just against the worst ones. Which is why it's such a joy and relief today to endorse Andrea for state auditor. Oops, we mean Andrea Lea. It's a name voters should remember, too. How many chances do they have to vote for a candidate they can be proud of without reservation or hesitation? Not enough. Which is one more reason to endorse her this beautiful fall day in Arkansas.
Editorial on 10/09/2014