Files wins state Senate runoff race against Glidewell (Updated)

Former state Rep. Jake Files proved Tuesday (June 8) that money was not necessarily the key factor in the runoff election for the Arkansas Senate District 13 seat.

Files won the Tuesday GOP Primary runoff against Rep. Frank Glidewell with 57.48% of the vote (2,463 votes). Glidewell received 1,822 votes. Because no Democrat filed for the seat, Files will be the next State Senator representing Fort Smith in the Arkansas Legislature.

Files said Glidewell called him at about 9:15 p.m. to concede the race.

“He told me I ran a tough campaign and he said he thinks I’ll make a great Senator,” Files said of the call.

“It was great campaign and I’m very thankful for all those who supported me and voted for me,” Files continued. “I think Fort Smith sent the message that we are ready for change and effective leadership in Little Rock.”

As to what’s next, Files said he’s going to get some sleep and get up Wednesday to prepare for the next Arkansas General Assembly. That preparation will include meeting with area business and community leaders to learn how he can best serve them in Little Rock.

“The benefit of not having a Democratic opponent is that I have more than six months to get prepared,” Files said.

Glidewell said the best part of the night is knowing that the race is over.

“I thought there for awhile that this was never going to get over … my family and I have just about had all of this we can stand,” Glidewell said. He continued, noting that the only thing worse than losing would have been to have the runoff end in a tie.

“I was gonna tell him (Jake) we’d flip a coin because I wasn’t going to race anymore,” Glidewell said with a laugh.

As for FIles being the next state Senator representing Fort Smith?

“He’ll be good. I think he’ll be able to push some new issues,” Glidewell said of Files.

PRIMARY RESULTS, DEBATE ACTION
Files unofficially ended the primary election with 2,553 votes (39.81%), Glidewell ended with 2,391 votes (37.28%), and Jim Medley with 1,469 votes (22.91%).

Going into the runoff election, Glidewell had raised at least $75,100 compared to Files’ $28,189 (not including $10,000 in loans Files made to his campaign).

Two debates — both held June 1 — were the highlights of the often testy three-week campaigning by Files and Glidewell between the May 18 primary and June 8 runoff. Debate topics focused on questions about Glidewell’s 2009 legislative compensation, Files’ dropping out of a previous legislative race, and how could be a more effective legislator in the Arkansas Senate.

Questions about Glidewell’s non-salary compensation as a legislator in 2009 was first raised by Jim Medley during a May 13 debate with Jake Files. Medley said Glidewell’s per diem, mileage and expense reimbursements of more than $47,000 in 2009 were “pretty creative.”

Glidewell disputed the figures, saying the most he collected in per diem in 2009 was $11,787. Glidewell sent a statement to The City Wire suggesting Files and Medley owed him an apology. Glidewell supporters also challenged the media to get to the truth on the issue.

Research conducted by The City Wire showed Glidewell collected $48,271 in per diem, mileage and allowable expenses and reimbursements in 2009. Adding that to his salary, Glidewell’s total legislative compensation in 2009 was $63,971.

The Glidewell campaign then changed their approach, saying instead that such reimbursements come with the territory for legislators who spend a lot of time in Little Rock and around the state and committee meetings and hearings.

As to Files’ alleged lack of time or desire to serve as Senator, Glidewell reminded the audiences at both debates that Files backed out of a previous legislative race. Glidewell also alleged that Files seeks the Senate seat only as a stepping stone to a bigger political career.

“Are you going to stay with this?” Glidewell asked Files at the noon debate, adding that “you just can’t quit” when having to work 15-30 hours a week on constituent requests becomes too much for a father with three young daughters. “It’s not a part-time job. … I don’t see how you can do this job and raise a family.”

Files denied any talk of seeking higher political office, saying his focus is on “going to Little Rock and making a difference” for Fort Smith. Files also said he resented Glidewell’s assertion that a parent with children at home is automatically an ineffective legislator compared to a retiree.

Files used his closing comments at the second June 1 debate to say he and Glidewell were friends prior to the race and would be friends after the race. Files also noted that he would be the first to support Glidewell if he were to win, and believed Glidewell would feel likewise.

Glidewell didn’t appear to feel likewise. He used his closing comments to reiterate his belief that Files was a quitter, that Files views the Senate race as an application for higher office and that if Files were to win, the “happiest people in the state” would be those in the Democratic Party.