Ex-U.S. attorney to run against Snyder

— Former U.S attorney and Republican presidential adviser Tim Griffin announced Monday that he'll oppose Democratic U.S Rep. Vic Snyder in 2010, saying his values were more in line with central Arkansas voters than are those of the 12-year incumbent.

Griffin, 41, had initially considered running against U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., but he said he decided in May that enough Republicans who plan to run in that race represented his views.

"This was really a separate decision," said Griffin, who added that he started seriously considering entering the 2nd Congressional District race about a month ago. He said the contentious town-hall meetings in August around the state didn't persuade him to enter the race, but they were "clearly part of the overall picture."

"I watched what happened in August with great interest," Griffin said. The rough reception faced by Snyder and other members of the state's Democratic congressional delegation "were not lost on me," he said.

Aside from the health care issue, Snyder's votes in favor of legislation to set limits on carbon emissions, called "cap and trade," and legislation to allow unions to organize workplaces without secret elections don't represent the district, Griffin said.

President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul health care is flawed, Griffin said, because it looks to government for innovation.

"More government involvement in health care should be the last option, not the first," Griffin said. He said he favors allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines.

The growing national debt is his "overriding" concern, Griffin said. He said he would "teach folks in Washington four words: We can't afford it."

In a statement, Snyder said, "It is a great honor to serve in public office representing Arkansas. I congratulate anyone willing to step forward and participate in our great American democracy. I wish Mr. Griffin well."

Snyder won the seat in 1996. He has a policy of not raising money for re-election until 90 days before the primary election, which will be held May 18.

Griffin said Monday he didn't know how much money he would need to raise to defeat Snyder.

Snyder, a doctor and lawyer who also served in the state Senate before being elected to Congress, hasn't faced a close election in a long time. Since 1998, no opponent has topped 42 percent of the vote against Snyder. In 2008, no Republican even tried. The Green Party candidate Deb McFarland netted 23 percent of the vote.

The closest race for Snyder came in his first race against Republican Bud Cummins. Snyder won by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent.

In 2006, Cummins was the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas when he was removed by President George W. Bush in what became a national controversy over undue political influence by the administration on U.S attorneys.

Griffin, a protege of keyBush adviser Karl Rove, was named to replace Cummins after Rove advanced his name in e-mails to White House officials for the position.

Griffin served in that position for about six months until 2007.

On Monday, Griffin said that he didn't anticipate his role in the U.S attorney dispute to affect his congressional campaign.

He said any negative associations will dissipate "when people get to know me and see me for who I am and not for some label that people put on me."

Griffin, who lives in Little Rock, is married and has a 2-year-old daughter. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are expecting another baby in March.

The Magnolia native is a fifth-generation Arkansan with a public relations firm and law practice in Little Rock. He has also served in the U.S Army Reserves for 13 years, holds the rank of major and has been deployed to Iraq.

Snyder served in Vietnam as a Marine.

The 2nd Congressional District covers Conway, Faulkner, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, White and Yell counties.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 09/22/2009

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