State, local candidates push for votes at Fort Smith forum

Donnie Copeland believes half of the $50 million quick action closing fund Gov. Mike Beebe has used to recruit new companies like Mitsubishi Power Systems and Mars Petcare should be instead used to provide small business loans to Arkansas-based entrepreneurs.

Copeland, a Pulaski County resident and Republican running for Lt. Gov., was one of six candidates participating Monday in a Fort Smith League of Women Voters forum held at the Golden Corral. Also attending the Noon forum were Sebastian County Clerk Doris Tate who is running as a Democrat for Arkansas Secretary of State; L.J. Bryant of Newport and Rep. Monty Davenport of Yellville who are running as Democrats for Arkansas Land Commissioner; and Annie Powell Hendricks and Joseph Self who are seeking the job as Judge in the Sebastian County Circuit Court, Division 2.

The job of Lt. Gov. is limited in scope by law but should not be limited in what the officeholder can propose with respect to new ideas, Copeland said.

“It can be a place for creativity and innovation,” said Copeland, who is running against Mark Darr of Benton in the Republican primary. State Sen. Shane Broadway of Benton is the lone Democrat in the race.

Indeed, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter used his office to launch a successful bid to push a voter-approved initiative that created a state lottery. The lottery sold its first tickets in the fall 2009.

Copeland said Arkansans with entrepreneurial ideas should have access to quick action closing funds just like companies from out of state.

“They (Arkansas-based small businesses) are not going to leave here for a better deal someday,” Copeland told the about 45 who attended the forum.

SECRETARY OF STATE
Tate was the only Secretary of State candidate to attend. Tate faces fellow Democrats Pat O’Brien, Pulaski County Clerk, and Mark Wilcox, Arkansas Land Commissioner (term limited) in the primary. State Rep. Mark Martin of Prairie Grove is the only Republican in the race.

Tate stressed her 20 years as county clerk as the experience she would use to lead the Secretary of State office. Also, Tate said she is the only candidate in the race to have worked two political redistricting periods required each 10 years. She reminded the audience that the next Secretary of State will be a key figure in the statewide redistricting following the 2010 Census.

LAND COMMISSIONER
Bryant said the Commissioner of State Lands is “a bit of a neglected office” but one that is important because it manages state-owned property, mineral rights and leases on that property and handles tax-delinquent properties. Bryant said he would like to use Internet-based mapping technologies and other technology to make delinquent properties “more marketable.” He reminded the group that getting the property back on the tax roll benefits schools and local governments.

Davenport said he would like to use technology to help make the old land records produced in the 1820’s and earlier available to those conducting historical research. However, Davenport said he thinks the state should be on the “trailing edge” of computerized property data to ensure that no mistakes are made. He suggested a more unconventional approach of seeing what works best in other states prior to moving forward in Arkansas.

CIRCUIT JUDGE
In the non-partisan contest between Powell Hendricks and Self, the two candidates agreed on just about everything except who was the better candidate. Powell Hendricks stressed her 23 years of family law experience as a better qualifier for a post that deals in such civil law matters. Self stressed his 22 years of private practice and six years of civil law mediator work as better suited for the job.

Self, who now serves as chief deputy for Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue, also said his experience in more than 60 jury trials will help him better evaluate the cases brought before him. Powell Hendricks, who said she has about “half a dozen” jury trials in her time as an attorney, reminded the group that jury trials are not part of the process in for the Circuit Judge, Division 2 post.