Skoch challenges Boozman in 3rd Congressional District
Posted: August 4, 2009 at 6:23 a.m.
FAYETTEVILLE — Retired Brig. Gen. Bernard Skoch announced on Monday that he will be a candidate in the Republican primary for Arkansas' 3rd District congressional seat.
Skoch (pronounced Scotch), 57, of Elkins, is the first Republican primary challenger U.S. Rep. John Boozman has faced since the five-term congressman was elected in 2001.
"For too many years our government has been controlled by professional politicians," Skoch said Monday before addressing a crowd of about 100 in front of the Fayetteville Town Center. "We have walked away from the Constitution. We have allowed the federal government to grow uncontrolled and develop a bloated budget."
If elected, Skoch said he will introduce a bill to require a balanced federal budget.
Skoch has been involved with the Arkansas Independence Caucus, serving as a keynote speaker for several "tea party" events in Northwest Arkansas.
The national Independence Caucus advertises itself as "a citizen's movement to take our government back from the big money special interest groups."
Skoch grew up in Jacksonville. He earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering in 1974 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. After college, until 2003, Skoch was in the U.S. Air Force, earning a master's degree from Central Michigan University along the way.
During Skoch's last two years in the military, he served as director of communications operations for the Air Force at its headquarters in the Pentagon.
Since 2003, he has served as a defense consultant through Suss Consulting Inc. of Virginia.
Party primaries will be held in May. The general election will be in November 2010.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 12 on 08/04/2009
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