I'd expected a verbal shootout between the former federal lawman and a pretty female gunslinger. Many in the overflow crowd at the annual Reagan Day Dinner inside North Arkansas Community College's cavernous Durand Center in downtown Harrison felt likewise, judging from pre-speech comments in the room Saturday evening.
With three weeks remaining until the primary election, the two-hour-long banquet understandably held the promise of a rousing exchange between incumbent Governor Asa Hutchinson and his challenger Jan Morgan, the so-called Gun Goddess who owns the Gun Cave Indoor Firing Range in Hot Springs.
After the catered meal had been consumed and two dozen local candidates from various counties had filed past the podium to solicit votes (along with Supreme Court Associate Justice Courtney Goodson seeking re-election), the anticipated main course to decide which gubernatorial candidate is most conservative (and thus suitable) was served.
I was seated right behind 3rd District Rep Steve Womack, who also spoke, and beside Trevor Drown from Dover, the personable two-term District 68 representative, and his wife Kara. A former Green Beret veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and now candidate for secretary of state, the 47-year-old former UPS employee explained over chicken and pulled pork how much different and far more expensive it is to seek a statewide office than his local representative seat. His competitor, Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston, 45, sat a few tables over.
Back at the podium, the governor, clad in a dark suit, went first (Morgan's choice) to a chorus of cheers and a wall-to-wall standing ovation by some 450. He'd thankfully asked to invoke the mercy rule (after 90 minutes of pregame) and forgo reading his biography printed in the program.
The governor cited numerous first-term accomplishments, including reducing taxes, creating a nationally recognized computer education system in our public schools, reforming health care, and reducing the number of state employees by 1,000 while growing 60,000 new jobs.
He said his administration has promoted the lowest unemployment rate in state history, then reinforced his respect for defending the Second Amendment. He laid blame for the tragic mass shootings where it belongs, on the mental and emotional state of the shooters, rather than on their weapon of choice.
Hutchinson reiterated he's solidly pro-life and endorsed by Arkansas Right to Life. He said his entire public service career--which includes serving as U.S. attorney for the state's Western District, administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, undersecretary of Homeland Security and three-term 3rd District congressman--has been dedicated to "following the rule of law."
Other than complimenting Morgan on her energy and and honorable dedication to aggressively seeking his office, Hutchinson refrained from getting personal or firing a single verbal shot at his opponent.
Morgan, clad in a fashionable white suit and armed with rare written remarks (she said she usually shoots from her heart at such events) was widely applauded as she took center stage. Yet I couldn't help but notice only about half the room rose from their circular dining tables. She, too, opted to skip a lengthy introduction.
She began by saying she realized those expecting a duel would be sadly disappointed. She hadn't come to participate in a heated debate, but was still hoping the governor would agree to holding one. Instead, she was "standing here" to represent the unserved and underserved residents across Arkansas and to share the widespread disillusionment and disgust with state government she'd encountered on the campaign trail.
In that respect, I suppose she was firing emotion-tipped hollow points in the governor's direction. She spoke (in a manner that reminded me of the early passion-filled Tea Party rallies) against public corruption and how numbers are manipulated to make state taxes seem less when they are quietly being raised on other ends. "We are among the poorest, most heavily taxed states," she said. "Telling people they are getting a record tax break while raising taxes in other areas is morally reprehensible."
Morgan explained her support for a fully transparent government, protecting the Second Amendment and how it is terrible when government needlessly uses its heavy hand to impose onerous regulations on small private businesses struggling to survive.
During statewide travels, she'd listened to many who'd become discouraged by a government intent on serving itself rather than the people who elect its members. It was for these people she said she decided to run for governor. The time has come to say "this is it, rather than giving up in hopeless despair," Morgan said. "People are tired of the lies, over-regulation and over-taxation."
As tables were cleared shortly after 8 p.m., small crowds gathered to discuss the evening. Most of what I overheard agreed the governor was polished, specific and articulate while Morgan was the authentic person and polished, passionate candidate-on-a-mission she paints herself to be.
All in all, I believe most left planning to vote the same way they'd felt before diving into their chicken and green beans.
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Mike Masterson is a longtime Arkansas journalist. Email him at mmasterson@arkansasonline.com.
Editorial on 05/01/2018