Legislative Candidates Face Off At Northeast Arkansas Political Animals

The candidates in four hotly-contested state House races in Arkansas met Friday morning for an informative, sometimes spirited, debate just weeks before the election.

The NEA Political Animals club hosted the candidates in Districts 52 (Republican Dwight Tosh and Democrat Radius Baker), District 53 (Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat State Rep. Homer Lenderman), District 58 (Republican Brandt Smith and Democrat State Rep. Harold Copenhaver) and District 59 (Republican Jack Ladyman and Democrat Ron Carroll).

The candidates were asked a series of questions ranging from abortion to the private option during the 90-minute debate at the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce office on Nettleton Avenue.

Both Smith and Sullivan criticized their opponents on the abortion issue and a vote in the 2013 session involving the so-called Human Heartbeat Amendment.

“My opponent’s voting record speaks for itself,” Smith said of Copenhaver as Smith was holding a placard showing several votes on the issue. “He did not have the intestinal fortitude to even vote on the heartbeat amendment.”

Copenhaver countered that he is pro-life and that his wife has worked for an area pregnancy resource center for 10 years.

“I also took an oath to the Constitution,” Copenhaver said. “The governor vetoed it (the bill). He is a constitutional scholar and served as attorney general.”

Sullivan also questioned Lenderman on the issue.

“There is a difference between not voting and defending the Constitution,” Sullivan said of the votes by Lenderman and Copenhaver. “I would also say that Arkansas Right to Life has not given an endorsement of the incumbents and that says a lot.”

Later in the debate, Lenderman responded.

“I am pro-life. I supported the 20-week bill until the governor’s veto,” Lenderman said, noting he also supported other legislation. “I hate abortion. I have a 20-month-old granddaughter. I would hate to see or even think of her being aborted. But there is also the Constitution.”

JOBS

Each of the candidates said they would work with the governor, the legislature and business leaders to bring jobs to the state.

However, several differed on the manner in which to do it.

Ladyman said he would like to see Jonesboro attract the corporate headquarters of companies.

“We do a good job of attracting companies here, but we do a horrible job of bringing corporate headquarters here,” Ladyman said. “We need those corporate headquarters here. Northeast Arkansas, it is the best kept secret in the state.

Carroll said he would like to work with state officials on a strategy, while Lenderman said he would like to see an increase in funding in the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund.

Tosh said he would work on both tax and regulatory reform, while Baker said he would expand the state’s pre-kindergarten and adult education programs.

PRIVATE OPTION

The candidates were asked about their views on the private option as well as a vote next year on reauthorizing the program.

Carroll said the program has helped 8,000 people in Craighead County to receive health insurance, while Baker said it has also helped rural hospitals with funding.

Tosh said the program may not have been well thought out.

“It is a good idea to help people who can’t help themselves. But to have no long-term approach to this is a bad idea,” Tosh said. “The premiums are sky high. We have to look at the big picture, roll up our sleeves and go to work.”

When asked about the reauthorization, Baker said a no vote would cause 200,000 people in the state to be dropped from insurance. Lenderman said a no vote would also cause problems with the state’s finances.

“Those people would have to go back to Medicaid and it would wreck the budget,” Lenderman said.

Sullivan said state officials should think outside the box when dealing with the issue.

“It is like throwing a firebomb to try to stop a fire,” Sullivan said. “We need to find a business solution.”

Copenhaver said the increase in funding, going to Medicaid, would have an impact on other funding concerns like Arkansas State University and county and state jails.

TAXES

The candidates were also asked about the need to balance a low tax and spending policy versus needing to fund education, prisons and the Department of Human Services.

Smith said the state has to prioritize its needs.

“We can’t do it all. We can only spend the money once and we have to prioritize,” Smith said, noting he would work on education first. “If it is not done right, there will be more need and incarceration down the road.”

Copenhaver said he would support funding ASU.

“We have a $5 billion budget (in this state). I would work on anything affecting ASU and I would be a fighter for ASU,” Copenhaver said.

Ladyman said both goals could be accomplished, by simply improving the economy.  “We have to be willing to look outside the box. We can do both,” Ladyman said.

Carroll said he would talk to constituents about their concerns, while Tosh said he agreed with Ladyman and would support working on both ideas.

Baker said he was for cutting taxes only when it makes sense to cut taxes, while Sullivan said the tax issue has an impact everywhere.

“You can squeeze or you can grow the economy. I am for growing the economy. The squeezing, it happens a lot with the federal government. The federal government squeezes the state government. And when the state government squeezes, it squeezes the local government,” Sullivan said.

DEBATES

While there has not been any formal polling done in the four legislative races, a poll from North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling released earlier this week showed Republicans with a 48-39 lead over Democrats in a generic state legislative race.

The candidates have campaigned throughout the districts over the past year or so, but Friday was the first major debate that has been hosted for the candidates.

A local civic club is also hosting a series of debates, scheduled for October. According to an email sent Thursday afternoon, the Jonesboro Kiwanis Club will be hosting the debates at Barnhill’s restaurant on Caraway Road during its noon meeting.

The schedule includes:

• District 52 (Republican Dwight Tosh and Democrat Radius Baker) on Oct. 8.
• District 53 (Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Homer Lenderman on Oct. 15.
• District 58 (Republican Brandt Smith and Democrat Harold Copenhaver) on Oct. 22.
• District 59 (Republican Jack Ladyman and Democrat Ron Carroll) on Oct. 29.

The election is Nov. 4, with early voting starting Oct. 20.