All eight candidates – Democratic and Republican – vying for the First District Congressional seat to replace Rep. Marion Berry took to the stage in Lonoke on Thursday night answering a wide range of questions and asking the local crowd for their votes.
The candidates included Republicans Rick Crawford and Princella Smith and Democrats Steve Bryles, Chad Causey, David Cook, Terry Green, Ben Ponder, and Tim Wooldridge.
Talk Business host and editor Roby Brock moderated the event, which was sponsored by Lonoke County Leadership.
Questions ranged from tax policies to economic growth, health care to card check.
While all 8 candidates agreed that the federal government has grown too big and far-reaching in many areas, none felt that Congress or the administration was doing enough in the area of agriculture.
Candidates advocated for reduced programs in education, health care, and regulatory agencies, while declaring that more money should be directed to agricultural subsidies and protections to ensure that farmers could continue to produce low-cost food.
Rob Moritz with our content partner, the Arkansas News Bureau, files this report.
