Republican Jim Keet officially enters race for governor

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) 294 views 

It’s official.

Jim Keet said Thursday (Feb. 25) that he was 90% certain he would run as a Republican for Arkansas Governor. He made that official with a press release saying he would conduct a five-city tour March 2, and follow up a week later with another five cities. Fort Smith is on the list of the first group of five cities.

Keet orginally considered running for Lt. Gov., but decided to take on Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat who enjoys unprecedented popularity among Arkansans.

Below is the full text of Keet’s press release announcing his candidacy.

Former Republican State Senator and businessman Jim Keet announced today his candidacy for Arkansas Governor. Keet plans to formally announce his run for Governor during a five city tour of Arkansas on Tuesday, March 2nd, where he will visit Jonesboro, El Dorado, Little Rock, Fort Smith and Bentonville. Next week, Keet will also visit Texarkana, Fayetteville Springdale, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs and West Memphis. Times and locations for the “Jim Keet for Arkansas Governor Announcement Tour” to be released on Monday.

Jim Keet says:
“My top priorities for Arkansas include establishing creative methods to develop our state as one of the nation’s leading business-friendly environments, advancing literacy initiatives at every age and reforming Arkansas’ tax structure to fuel job creation.”

“If President John F. Kennedy can start a process which put a man on the moon within one decade, surely together we can accomplish the following:

• Reposition the Arkansas literacy rate within the top five states by 2019.
• Revise the Arkansas tax code so as to attract both small and large businesses from outside the state’s borders. Encourage existing Arkansas companies to remain here rather than fleeing the state which deprives our businesses of the seed capital they need to grow and prosper.
• Continue working on the prevention of drug abuse which has a devastating impact on Arkansas families and contributes to the overcrowding problem within our prison system. The drug problem and high unemployment are inextricably linked to the problems we have with a prison system that is bursting at the seams.
• Appoint a bipartisan commission to be styled after the military base reduction effort at the national level. The commission would eliminate waste by looking into the efficacy and need for various boards, commissions and staffing levels within our government.”

“Arkansans are sick and tired of the divisiveness and destructive rhetoric that we see on a national basis. I intend to bring a breath of fresh air to the campaign trail by discussing issues and differences of opinion constructively. I want to create a new day in Arkansas politics where everyday citizens are attracted to the political process rather than disgusted by it.”

Jim Keet is the President of Taziki’s Restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas and former President and CEO of Barnhill’s Buffet. In 1989, Keet was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and in 1992 was elected to the Arkansas State Senate.  He has been married to Margaret Keet for thirty-eight years and they have four children and two grandchildren.  See attached biography for more information.