Speaker Carter: ‘A political kind of guy’

The success of the recently completed regular session of the 89th General Assembly has many wondering what Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, will do next.

He has fresh political capital and he delivered in a way that defied the odds. Is he the new breed of Republican that Arkansas has been waiting for?

Carter says he can’t answer that question – “that’s best left to others to consider” – but for a guy with a lot of political opportunity he doesn’t care too much for politics.

“I’m just not a political kind of guy. I recognize that’s a weird thing to say,” he confesses. “I don’t go to the county committee meetings. I’m not comfortable just standing out there cheering party politics. I believe the things I believe.”

Carter is a classic politician who likes to govern, but may not love to campaign. Jim Guy Tucker fit that mold. He was more at home problem solving and consensus building in the Governor’s office, while the campaign trail was eschewed as a necessary but unpleasant formality.

Mike Huckabee and Bill Clinton loved the campaign trail more than the rigors of the daily grind of governing. If Carter aims for higher office, he may have to grow on the campaign trail.

“I try not to take Republican and Democratic shots. What we do affects millions of people. I think folks see right through that stuff. I know I do and I think everybody else does too. God I hope so,” he said.

Before asking what office Carter may be eyeing, he’s asked if he even wants to continue in public service.

“That’s probably a more difficult question for me to answer. Part of it, I absolutely love. I love being a part of what just happened with the session and working with people and bringing people together and accomplishing things. I love being in those moments. I like the challenges, I like the drama. I like it all.”

Carter has not downplayed the possibility of entering the 2014 Governor’s race, which already includes former Third District Congressman Asa Hutchinson and Curtis Coleman on the GOP side. Rep. Debra Hobbs, R-Rogers, says she’ll join the fray.

Hutchinson’s name ID and his power base in northwest Arkansas makes a challenge a daunting task.

Others suggest a safer path to office through the Attorney General’s office, which will be an open seat when current office-holder Dustin McDaniel leaves. There have been rumors suggesting Carter eye a Congressional run or even a Supreme Court seat, where openings are expected in 2014.

“In this public service area, I’m probably only interested in the Governor’s race. I’m still not there yet,” Carter said.

The Speaker says he’ll spend some time decompressing from the session and he wants to spend quality time with his family, which has been lacking due to the past few months of the legislature and the past few years in the banking business.

One gets the impression that he’ll make an unconventional decision sooner rather than later. He says he’s already bored. He’s competitive, He’s impatient.

“The one thing that’s more precious than the job or the office or anything is just the time. Life goes by quickly and some of those days I just don’t want to spend my days doing. I just want to make sure I spend my years here the best that I can,” he said.

Link here for a story about Carter’s work during the recently completed legislative session.