Bookout Senate Seat Lands 3 Early Candidates
by August 26, 2013 3:10 pm 80 views
The resignation of State Sen. Paul Bookout (D-Jonesboro) over ethical transgressions related to his campaign finances has spurred plenty of early interest by replacements.
Gov. Mike Beebe (D) is expected to set a date for a special election later this week.
The special election for Senate District 21 has already sparked announcements from two Republican and one Democratic candidate.
John Cooper, a retired AT&T employee and a Vietnam-era veteran from Jonesboro, abandoned his effort for an open House seat and said last week he will seek the Republican nomination for the State Senate seat instead.
“It is tragic circumstances that cause us to have this open seat,” said Cooper, “but with the short time frame we have to fill this vacancy, I’m ready to begin a campaign focused on issues facing our area and state.”
Dan Sullivan, also of Jonesboro, officially announced his candidacy for the Senate District 21 GOP nomination on Monday (Aug. 26).
Sullivan is a former educator and currently owns a business called Ascent Children’s Health Services, which has more than 400 employees and 10 clinics across the state. He also serves as an appointee to the Arkansas Child Care Licensing Review Board.
“I’ve spent the past 10 years as an advocate for the physical and mental health of our children, the most vulnerable citizens of our state,” said Sullivan. “This has allowed me to spend time at the State Capitol working with the legislature and state agencies. I know the process of policy making and I know that I can be effective in acting in the best interest of the people of District 21.”
On the Democratic side, businessman and professor Steve Rockwell says he’s in. Rockwell was mentioned as a possible candidate for U.S. Congress in 2010 and 2012.
His family owns J.V. Rockwell Publishing, Corning Publishing, and Star Herald Publishing Companies, and Rockwell is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Arkansas State University.
“We need representatives that work to create good public policy that helps create more jobs and restores citizens’ trust in government,” said Rockwell. “It’s time to turn the page. As your State Senator, I will bring a fresh perspective as someone who has never run for public office and is not a politician. I’m a public servant, and I pledge to be a representative who will work to get things done for the people of Craighead County. People come first, period.”