The City Wire endorsements: Morrison and Boozman

Editor’s note: The City Wire is endorsing candidates in the Democratic and GOP primaries for the U.S. Senate; the GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District; and the GOP primary races for Arkansas Senate District 13, Arkansas House District 63 and Arkansas House District 64.

U.S. Senate — Democratic primary
The City Wire endorses agribusinessman D.C. Morrison — which is unlikely to help him capture much support among the 17 people in the Fort Smith region voting in the Democratic primary.

Why Morrison? Primarily because he’s not U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, and primarily because poll after poll after poll affirm that Lincoln and Halter are not us. Which is to say that when it comes to Card Check, cap and trade, the federal health care bill, higher taxes and more government spending, Lincoln and Halter are often on the side a majority of Arkansans don’t support.

During an April 12 forum in Fort Smith, Morrison referred to global warming as “junk science” and said the recently passed health care bill should be repealed.

“I’m a conservative and I’m on the Democratic ticket … and I’m opposed to government-run health care 100%,” said Morrison, who grew up as a cotton farmer and is now an agri loan consultant living in Little Rock.

As to the Waxman-Markey bill (clean energy act often referred to as cap and trade legislation), Morrison said: “It’s just a way to tear down our society.”

Morrison is much more of the old-school, Arkansas-conservative Democrat that has made Gov. Mike Beebe so damned popular. Whereas the plethora of television and radio ads from Lincoln, Halter and their respective — yet terrifically disrespectful — supporters remind us again and again what is wrong with Washington.

Morrison also doesn’t come off as the crazy guy talking about an aunt in the basement and great sucking sounds. Such craziness might be expected from a person who thought it a good idea to get in a race knowing full well the kind of money Lincoln and Halter were willing to spend. In watching him in the forum, a televised debate and briefly talking to him, he is more informed, articulate, direct and professional than most of the Republicans in the GOP primary. (We know that’s not his primary, but we couldn’t help but point out the obvious.) In the televised debate between Halter, Lincoln and Morrison, the taller Morrison came across in physical and emotional stature as the adult standing between two high school juniors arguing over who had a better theme for the prom.

However, Morrison’s admirable charge of the political windmills will fall flat. He doesn’t have a prayer in the primary. Morrison likely will gain between 8-12% of the primary vote, enough to force a runoff between Lincoln and Halter. Morrison’s candidacy may delay the inevitable, but hopefully he will garner a big enough percentage to send a signal to politicians to pay closer attention to the desires of Arkansans.

U.S. Senate – Republican primary
The City Wire endorses U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers.

Boozman is one of eight Republicans who followed the siren song of U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s incredibly low poll numbers into the GOP primary.

Boozman created a minor political earthquake (with the epicenter in the 3rd Congressional District) when he jumped from his 3rd District re-election campaign to the Senate race that already had State Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, polling well against Lincoln. And while Boozman’s move ruffled a few feathers in the Republican Party, nothing is a certainty in Arkansas until the filing period ends.

By the way, this Baker fella is not a bad choice. We’ll stick with our belief that Boozman is the best choice in the race, but if for some reason you can’t go Boozman, Baker would be a good second choice.

Why Boozman? Obviously, he’s the local boy; the favorite son, so to speak. But that and another $4 billion to $5 billion will build Interstate 49. Now that we’ve mentioned I-49, let’s continue by noting that Boozman has carried the most water for that project and would enter the U.S. Senate with the background, experience and connections to possibly do more.

On the topic of infrastructure, it was Boozman who politely but bluntly told Crawford and Sebastian County business and government leaders that they had to get their own house in order before he’d get serious about helping them with funding for intermodal projects. Thus, the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority was formed in August 2009, and authority reps already have a date (May 17) to pitch their case to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

Overall, Boozman has done a decent job as the 3rd District Congressman. And while we think he’s the best pick in the race, we’re not convinced he’s Senatorial timber in the Joseph T. Robinson and John L. McClellan mold (not that they were fully in that mold when first elected).

All that being said, Boozman was an easy endorsement because he knows the socio-economic strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the Fort Smith region, he understands the benefits of government support while being on guard against government interference and has proven to be an effective liaison between Arkansas and Washington.