Republican Jim Keet considering Governor’s race
by February 25, 2010 5:25 pm 72 views
Republican businessman Jim Keet says he’s “90 percent certain” that he’s running for Governor.
Keet, a Little Rock restaurateur and former state legislator who has made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Congress in 1990, tells Talk Business — a content partner with The City Wire — that since he re-entered politics in a possible 2010 Lt. Governor bid, he’s been encouraged by Republican supporters to seek the office of chief executive.
“At first I kind of took that as a compliment, but the more I thought about it, I started thinking there is some merit to that,” Keet said.
He likes the overwhelmingly popular Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe, considers him a friend and thinks on many issues he’s done a good job.
“It isn’t about Mike Beebe,” said Keet. “It’s about the process of bringing a different perspective to the legislative process and the executive branch of the state.
“I think one of the most important aspects of politics is that you need to have a forum for discussing new ideas,” he added. “If we don’t have candidates that are willing to stand up despite the odds in both parties, then we’ll never have the best possible government. I think its good to have competing views and candidates on both sides of the aisle.”
How crucial is Keet’s entry into the Governor’s race for Arkansas Republicans? Essential.
The Arkansas GOP must field a candidate for Governor and earn 3% of the popular vote in November 2010 to maintain its party status under Arkansas law.
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