James Lee Witt Touts Public-Private Partnerships For More Jobs

Mike Ross and Asa Hutchinson aren’t the only candidates for political office talking jobs this election season. Fourth District Democratic Congressional candidate James Lee Witt is also touting a jobs plan.

On Thursday, Witt discussed ways for the 33-county district to work for new jobs and economic growth through stronger public-private partnerships.

“Job creation and training in Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District must include further development of public-private partnerships between our educational institutions and businesses,” said Witt. “These partnerships will focus on creating and retaining a competitive workforce with the skill level to sustain high quality, Arkansas jobs.”

Witt, who faces Republican State Rep. Bruce Westerman this fall, said the Fourth District’s current unemployment rte of 9.4% doesn’t reflect that some counties have even higher double-digit percentages. He also highlighted the low per capita income in the district, which is $19,850, and household income, which averages $35,767, he said.

“At the same time, there are currently estimated to be 30,000 unfilled positions in the state with a great number of these in the Fourth District,” Witt said in a statement on his web site.

Witt called on district leaders to focus on regional job development to marry education and training with professional and technical skills based on industry needs.

“We can’t have a one-size fits all approach,” said Witt. “Using a regional focus for economic growth will allow us to maximize our resources and work in a collaborative manner to ensure successful programs and initiatives are in place.”

He touted successful programs like one at the University of Arkansas Community College in Hope (UACCH), which seeks to tailor programs attuned to business needs in order to match job openings.

“To that end, I will work with education and industry to target corporate, state and federal resources to enhance employment in existing industries as well as expansion in areas complementing key targeted growth industries, including: high-skill fields, such as advanced manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and STEM. In addition, I will work closely with community and state leaders to ensure all available incentives are utilized to attract and recruit new businesses to the district,” Witt said.

He also said he would push concepts that start jobs education at the high school levels for potential opportunities in the manufacturing field, an effort that mirrors a successful model adopted in recent years at Mid-South Community College in West Memphis.

Witt’s plan is likely to highlight a contrast in priorities between himself and his Republican challenger Bruce Westerman.

Westerman’s campaign manager Ryan James responded to the Witt announcement on Thursday saying, “The jobs plan hardworking Arkansas families deserve is fewer hassles from the federal government and more freedom for the private sector to grow good-paying jobs so Arkansas workers can establish long-term careers. Any legitimate plan must include the repeal of top-down regulations like Obamacare and Dodd-Frank, which are unfairly stifling small businesses through higher taxes, burdensome regulations, and fewer community banks able to lend money to those who want to invest in our neighborhoods.”

Earlier in the week, Westerman was elevated to “Contender” status by the National Republican Congressional Committee as part of its “Young Guns” program. The designation opens the door for Westerman to utilize more resources from the national group and is an indication that the campaign is competitive and that the seat is viewed as “favorable” to a GOP candidate.

Second District Republican French Hill is also at the “Contender” status of the program.

Late last week, Witt was also added to the “Red to Blue” program of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The “Red to Blue” program is for those candidates the DCCC considers to be top-tier candidates in open districts and districts held by Republicans. Candidates in this program usually receive significant resources either through staffing, direct contributions or advertising done on their behalf.

Earlier this year, Second Congressional District candidate Pat Hays was placed in this program.

Westerman and Witt are vying for the open seat currently held by Senate challenger, Republican Tom Cotton.