Kurt Maddox, the only candidate in the GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District to endorse Rogers Mayor Steve Womack, is investigating the possibility of running for the Rogers Mayor seat.
Maddox said in the press release issued Friday (July 30) afternoon he is forming a campaign committee for the mayoral race but “stopped short of making his candidacy official pending the legal formation of the committee.”
In early June, Maddox found himself in an endorsement battle between supporters of Womack and State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers. Maddox endorsed Womack, while other GOP also-rans Gunner DeLay, Steve Lowry and Doug Matayo endorsed Bledsoe. Womack won the 3rd District GOP primary after surviving an 8-person primary and a tight runoff against Bledsoe. In the runoff, Womack captured 18,290 votes (52%) and Bledsoe received 17,048 votes.
A press release issued Friday afternoon by Maddox includes a quote from Womack noting: "We need more business leaders like Kurt in our political community.”
But don’t, according to Womack, believe that a deal was made with Maddox or that he will issue an endorsement in the mayoral race.
“Of course I did not. I do not play those games,” Womack told The City Wire. “He (Maddox) endorsed me straight up, no questions asked, no promises made.”
Continuing, Womack said: “I’m not going to endorse him, and I’m not going to endorse anyone else. I have said before, and I will say again, ‘I am not endorsing anyone for the mayor of Rogers.’ … It’s a decision that belongs in the hands of the electorate, and they should be free to do that without any bias from me or any other individuals.”
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