Candidate forums set by Fort Smith League of Women Voters (Updated)

The Fort Smith League of Women voters recently announced a series of four candidate forums that is to include the eight candidates in the GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District.

Each event will be held between Noon and 1:15 p.m., at the Golden Corral (1801 S. Waldron Road) in Fort Smith. The forum dates are:
• April 12: candidates for Arkansas Secretary of State; Arkansas Land Commissioner; and Lt. Governor.
• April 19: candidates for Arkansas Senate district 13 (Fort Smith), and Arkansas House Districts 63 and 64.
• April 26: candidates for the 3rd Congressional district
• May 11: candidates for Sebastian County District Judge.

Updated: Also on April 12, a forum for U.S. Senate candidates will be held between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., in the meeting room at the Fort Smith Schools Administration Building (3205 Jenny Lind Road) See list of candidates below.

Dolores Chitwood, president of the Fort Smith League of Women Voters, said the events will be less of a debate and more of a chance for the public to hear the candidates explain their positions.

The legislative races on the April 19 roster are those that will be decided by the primary because no Democrats filed for the seats.

In the District 13 Arkansas Senate race are former Reps. Jake Files and Jim Medley and Rep. Frank Glidewell. Sen. Denny Altes is term limited in the seat.

The Arkansas House District 63 race (of which Rep. Glidewell is term limited) has Sen. Altes facing former 188th commander J.R. Dallas.

Rep. Stephanie Malone, a first-term incumbent in the District 64 seat, is being challenged by Fort Smith City Director Gary Campbell.

Candidates in the other races scheduled for the League forums are:
• Secretary of State
State Rep. Mark Martin (R)
Pat O’Brien, Pulaski County Clerk (D)
Doris Tate, Sebastian County Clerk (D)
Mark Wilcox, Arkansas Land Commissioner (D)

• Land Commissioner
Mike Berg (D)
L.J. Bryant (D)
Monty Davenport (D)
John Thurston (R)

• Lieutenant Governor
State Sen. Shane Broadway (D)
Donnie Copeland (R)
Mark Darr (R)

• 3rd Congressional District
State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R)
Gunner DeLay (R)
Steve Lowry (R)
Kurt Maddox (R)
Doug Matayo (R)
Boone County Judge Mike Moore (R)
Bernard Skoch (R)
David Whitaker (D)
Rogers Mayor Steve Womack (R)

• U.S. Senate
Randy Alexander (R)
State Sen. Gilbert Baker (R)
U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R)
Curtis Coleman (R)
Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D)
Kim Hendren (R)
Jim Holt (R)
D.C. Morrison (D)
U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D)
Fred Ramey (R)
Conrad Reynolds (R)