Green, Altes bow out of 3rd District race; Green endorses Bledsoe

Rep. Rick Green, R-Van Buren, has decided against entering the GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District, and has instead thrown his support behind State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers.

“Although my family was willing to stand by me and make the sacrifices that a family must make and even though I had received support from many friends and supporters urging me to get in the race, the issue of timing made my decision for me,” Green said in an e-mail to The City Wire.

Green said after the fiscal session ended Thursday, he took time to reflect upon the candidates already announced and the head start they have in terms of organizing a staff and raising money.

“I could find no compelling reason for me to enter a crowded field of qualified candidates who have had many weeks to form campaigns and begin fund-raising efforts. I will continue to devote myself to the remainder of the my final term as State Representative focusing on a possible bid for the State Senate in two years,” Green wrote.

Green said he called Bledsoe on Friday to offer his support for her candidacy.

Green wrote of Bledsoe: “Senator Bledsoe is a true conservative, a tireless champion in working on issues and will work hard to represent the entire 3rd Congressional District. I am proud to call Senator Bledsoe a colleague and a friend. She will make great things happen for the 3rd District as our Congresswoman.”

The move in early February by U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, to seek election to the U.S. Senate instead of re-election as the 3rd District Congressman resulted in a compressed time frame for GOP candidates to raise money and gather support for the May 18 primary. Conventional political wisdom indicates it will take between $200,000 and $300,000 to be competitive in the GOP primary for the 3rd District race, and some of the frontrunners already have campaign organizations in place.

The GOP field in the May 18 primary for the 3rd District now includes:
State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers;
Gunner DeLay of Fort Smith;
Steve Lowry of Springdale;
Kurt Maddox of Gravette;
Boone County Judge Mike Moore;
Bernard Skoch of Elkins; and,
Rogers Mayor Steve Womack.

Also, State Sen. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith, confirmed Friday (Feb. 26) that he will not enter the 3rd District GOP primary.

“As long as Gunner is running I am not. He is a friend and would take from my base. We have the same friends and go to the same church,” Altes noted in an e-mail to The City Wire.

Will Altes endorse Gunner?

“Not yet. He hasn’t asked,” was Altes’ response.

Altes said he instead will focus on running for District 63 Arkansas House seat (Fort Smith) where he has two terms (four years) of eligibility remaining under Arkansas’ strict term limits law.

The decision by Altes creates a GOP primary for the District 63 House seat. J.R. Dallas, a retired Colonel with the Arkansas Air National Guard and former commander of the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, announced Oct. 22 will seek the District 63 Arkansas House seat.