Hutchinson’s ground game

This past week, a 45-minute “pop-in” visit at the state’s Alexander Unit for troubled teens by Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson seemed a little puzzling. At first blush, some may have thought the visit was all about publicity. Could it have been just another staged press event for the governor-elect’s benefit?

But the press was not at the event, and was informed only after the 45-minute visit had ended. So where’s the press and publicity benefit?

A day later in front of the Arkansas Farm Bureau in Hot Springs, the governor-elect, perhaps, gave us the answer. During his campaign, only in a few instances and mostly in favorable territory in Northwest Arkansas, did candidate Hutchinson evoke the name of the late icon of American retailing – Sam Walton. He did it this week in front of the Farm Bureau folks, who collectively have not been very friendly to the governor-elect as a candidate.

Asked about his “pop-in” visit at the state’s juvenile lock-up, Hutchinson gave chapter and verse on why the governor-in-waiting needed to see the facility, meet the staff and talk with the Independent Contractors running the facility. Hutchinson then, for the benefit of the Farm Bureau folks, evoked Mr. Sam’s name and management philosophy.

“I do it because I follow Sam Walton’s philosophy of leadership,” Hutchinson said quoted in the state’s largest newspaper about the visit to the juvenile lockup. “Unless you know what’s happening in the stores and happening to the customers and getting the street-level information, you cannot make a good decision from top management, and so I am there.”

Hutchinson, speaking at the Northwest Arkansas Community College back in mid-summer, to a crowd mostly of college students, gave the Sam Walton philosophy spiel to the group. No one in that crowd seemed to pick-up on his remarks. After the speech Hutchinson, as an aside told this writer, “I guess this group is a little too young to really pick up on my Sam Walton philosophy.”

That day he was correct.

Hutchinson was also correct to recall that campaign promise this week to the Farm Bureau. That group knew of whom he was speaking. And they listened.

Gov.-elect Hutchinson’s little “pop-in” at the Youth Lock Up may have been a warning shot over the bow of the independent contractor who runs the youth facilities for the state. Many times leasing the care of court ordered criminal cases – even the cases of youths – is costly and rife with problems.

While these facilities have been under scrutiny for discipline methods that border on being barbaric, we need to remember this: The Alexander facility houses 100 of the state’s most violent and behaviorally troubled juvenile delinquents.

Also the state pays that independent contractor; a Florida firm called, GS4 Youth Services, almost $10 million a year to run several youth facilities for the state. The state, in turn, monitors the contractor GS4 at almost every level.

There have been some complaints about treatment and staffing which are under investigation by a federal funded organization called Disability Rights Arkansas. That report may be out soon, probably within the upcoming Legislative Session.

The Gov.-elect’s high profile “pop-in” visit at the Youth Lockup this past week should send a message in many directions. This in-coming governor has said he intends to be a hands-on, on-site and informed chief executive. That is a little different style from some governor’s we have known.

But so is Hutchinson.

He didn’t cut his teeth serving in the state House or in the state Senate. He’s had almost three terms in Congress and some federal administrative experience and some private business acumen to boot.

Asa Hutchison may be sending a mature, seasoned message: “I am my own man. I’ll be offering some of the best management advice I’ve known and seen in action.”
Gov.-elect Hutchinson has so far kept his campaign slogan’s promise: “…as Governor we will hit the ground running and never look back.”

Even if it means an unscheduled in-person trip to an agency that might need a little jolt of a surprise visit from the governor just to let them know he’s watching.