Land Commissioner Thurston to Host First Time Candidates Workshop

When Arkansas Land Commissioner John Thurston ran for office in 2010, he was amazed how little help and advice was available to help candidates who were brand new to politics.  So he has decided to do something about and is putting on a workshop for new candidates running in 2012 through his PAC – Arkansans for Ethical Government.

“The Commissioner wanted to get a group of the newly-elected officials together that had never been a candidate before  and then let them have a round table discussion about what they learned in the campaign that they would have never learned from a consultant or another class,” said Cory Cox who is helping organize the event. “He wants to cover the most basic – how do you get a bank account for your campaign? – to the more personal – how do you deal with some of the negative emotions that might come up? or find time for family.”

His guests will be other candidates who were also first-time candidates in 2010, including Congressman Tim Griffin, Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr, State Sen. Jason Rapert, and State Rep. Linda Collins-Smith. In addition, Former State Rep Ron Fuller, Former RPA executive Directors Richard Bearden and Chase Duggar, and Bradley Phillips with LobbyUp will help with the workshop presentations.

The event will be Saturday, March 24th at the Holiday Inn Presidential Center from 9:00 am to noon. It looks to have a conservative flare, but it is non-partisan and is open to all first-time candidates.

For more information, email Cory Cox at [email protected]