Boozman staffer clarifies GOP primary endorsement policy

A campaign staffer of U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, clarified Boozman’s policy of endorsing candidates in GOP primaries, saying Boozman will not endorse candidates in open-seat primaries but will endorse Republican incumbents with proven records.

The clarification was necessary following the announcement by Rep. Stephanie Malone, R-Fort Smith, that she received Boozman’s endorsement in her primary race against Fort Smith City Director Gary Campbell. Malone is Boozman’s niece.

On Feb. 22, The City Wire asked Boozman’s campaign if he would endorse a candidate in the GOP primary for the 3rd District seat. The response from Boozman chief Matt Sagely was that Boozman would “NEVER get involved in any primaries.”

But on Monday (Mar. 8), Patrick Creamer, Boozman’s spokesman for his U.S. Senate campaign, said the Sagely response was too broad. Creamer said Boozman will not get involved in GOP primaries without an incumbent (open-seat primary), and noted that Boozman did not endorse Malone in her open-seat primary against Brandon Woodrome in May 2008.

Also, Creamer said Malone’s familial relationship was a “non factor” in the endorsement decision.

“He (Boozman) considers Gary a friend and his endorsement of Rep. Malone was made on her record,” Creamer explained.

When asked, Creamer said he was not aware of any other endorsements made by Boozman in Arkansas House and Senate races.

For his part, Campbell said he thought Boozman would remain neutral.

“I was surprised to learn that Congressman Boozman has endorsed my opponent in the Republican Primary. In late summer 2009 after several business people begin asking me to run for State Representative, I contacted the Congressman’s office requesting either (1) a personal meeting with him or (2) that his staff relay my message to him that my decision was totally independent of family relationships,” Campbell noted in an e-mail to The City Wire. “Subsequently, I was led to believe that he planned to focus on his election only and would remain neutral on the State Representative race. In late January, he and I crossed paths in Fayetteville and I initiated a conversation about my race and he gave no indication that he would change his mind. In today’s world, family ties do not guarantee performance as evidenced by my opponent’s mediocre record.”