Deffenbaugh, Holmes raise more than $30,000 on race

story by Marla Cantrell
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Crawford County voter turnout has been heavy and Gary Deffenbaugh and Kevin Holmes, the two Republican candidates in the District 66 State Representative race believe their campaigns are boosting the early turnout.

“This (District 66) race has spent north of $30,000 between the two of us trying to get our message out,” Deffenbaugh said. “That, along with the U.S. Senate primaries and 3rd Congressional GOP primary, you have a lot of folks trying to turn out votes.”

According to reports filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State, Holmes has raised $16,481, loaned his campaign $2,211 and spent $14,629. Deffenbaugh has raised $15,840 and spent $12,563. The figures are from reports filed a week before the election.

Deffenbaugh, a Van Buren High School teacher and golf coach, said he’s spent $13,000 and has another $2,000 left. Holmes, a Van Buren attorney, calculates his spending at over $14,000 with another $3,000 in reserves. The money is critical to the campaign process; however, it’s been the old fashioned door-to-door campaigning that each believes will put him over the top.

It’s also how they’ve learned what voters want and don’t want in the next group of elected officials.

“The economy remains to be a big issue, but less taxes, opposition to the Obama health care plan and protecting Second Amendment rights are important to the voters as well,” Holmes said.

“The biggest concern I am seeing is the growth of the government and the shrinking of the free market,” Deffenbaugh said. “We have got to reverse this trend before it is too late.”

And with only days left until the May 18 primary, each is predicting victory.

“Voter turnout will be the key to our victory, but I feel confident we have a great chance to win,” Holmes said.

“My message of fewer taxes, less spending and more jobs seems to resonate with folks and I am confident it will carry us to victory,” Deffenbaugh said.

But they have thought about what happens if they don’t win. Each promises to support the other in the Republican bid for the District 66 seat in the November general election. And both agree it will be a tough race against the Democratic opponent, Crawford County Assessor Dianna Faucher.

“She has years of experience working with the quorum court and lobbying the state legislature on behalf of her fellow assessors,” Holmes said. “She has proven to be an electable candidate, and is well-known in the district.”

“She is a wonderful lady with a proven ability to win in Crawford County,” Deffenbaugh said. “It will take a lot of money and elbow grease to beat her. I hope the momentum of winning a primary will carry our candidate to victory.”

Not that she’s unbeatable.

Holmes and Deffenbaugh think they could defeat Faucher in the general election. They just want the chance to prove it. And they know if that will happen until all the votes are counted after the polls close on Tuesday.