Files of Fort Smith considering Republican party top spot

Jake Files of Fort Smith will soon decide if he will seek the post of party chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party.

Files is a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and was appointed in 2007 as vice chair of the Sebastian County Election Commission. He is chairman of the Sebastian Republican Party, and is a partner in Foster, Files and Harris, a real estate development company.

“I am seriously looking at it. I’ve talked to quite a few people,” Files told The City Wire Wednesday morning.

Dennis Milligan of Benton, the party leader since May 2007, has said he would step down from the post. Former State Sen. Doyle Webb of Benton, State Rep. Bryan King of Berryville and Fayetteville businessman Joseph Wood are other likely candidates for the top party post.

But Files said he is also interested in running for the state senate seat in Fort Smith that will be up for grabs in 2010 when State Sen. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith, reaches the end of his term limits.

“I don’t know that I can (physically) do both,” Files said, adding that he plans to make a decision by Monday (Nov. 17).

Files said the party, considering the state’s conservative voting base, should have more seats in the Arkansas House and Senate.

“That (Arkansas Legislature) needs to reflect the conservative way we vote for presidents,” Files said.

How would he do that? Files suggested two broad paths:

“We have to find good candidates,” he said.
The party, Files explained further, should actively pursue business leaders and other community leaders who have a history of protecting and promoting small business, rather than just hoping for a good candidate to step up.

Secondly, Files said the party must provide the good candidates with “solid” financial and strategic support.

The party votes on a new chairman in early December.