GOP primary shaping up in 4th District race

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected]

Until Thursday (Aug. 11), 4th District Congressional hopeful Tom Cotton (R-Dardanelle) was the only announced candidate for U.S. Rep. Mike Ross’, D-Prescott, open seat.

Marcus Richmond, a businessman and veteran from Scott County, tells Talk Business & Politics that he plans to enter the race as a Republican candidate.

"I made up my mind today that I will run for the House Seat in the 4th Congressional District. So now I must do the song and dance to make it official," Richmond said by e-mail.

"I will run on the Republican ticket. I already have company on the GOP ticket but I believe I am the right person at this time. I’m sure all candidates feel the same. So why am I the better choice? I have no interest in becoming a career politician. Politics is not a lifelong ambition. Therefore, I will work for the people of my district first and foremost not the party or special interest," he wrote.

"If we are going to extract ourselves from this economic tsunami, we must make some hard choices. You can bet the opposition, special interest and concerns for reelection will dictate much of the discussion. Not me. Because I am not worried about my political future I will stand up for what is right for the people of the 4th District. No sacred cows, no special interest," Richmond added.

He said he is working to take care of the paperwork to make his candidacy official before he hits the road later this month. Plans for a website are under construction, too.

"The 4th is a monster of a district and will be a challenge to everyone who decides to make a run," Richmond said.

Richmond, who lives in Harvey, Ark., in Scott County near Waldron, is a former Marine officer and owns two businesses, according to files on record. He is listed as business owner of America’s Pet Registry Inc., which registers designer dogs, and Old World Brick Oven Pizza, which also does business as Simple Simon Pizza of Waldron.

He floated his interest in running on his Facebook page early Thursday, railing against the increase in wealth sitting members of Congress have earned while in office.

"Before the citizens of the 4th District decide which person will represent them they must ask a very simple question. Why does this candidate want to go to DC? Is he/she another lawyer looking for a career feeding at the government trough? Is he/she looking to cash in on the lucrative value of being an elected member of Congress? The medium wealth of the members of Congress grew between 2008 and 2009 from $785,515.00 to $911,510.00. Apparently the recession hasn’t affected everyone. The above figures are averages and not every congressman is so very lucky but even the unlucky ones are doing just fine," he wrote.

Richmond added, "It is time to send a representative to DC who will focus on the next generation instead of the next election."

He lists regulatory burdens and deficit spending as other concerns for his candidacy.