ROGERS — Mayor Steve Womack announced his candidacy Friday for the Republican nomination for Congress.
Womack, who has been mayor for 11 years, will seek the 3rd District seat that U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., will be vacating in January. On Feb. 6, Boozman announced that he will run for the U.S.Senate.
“The race for Congress in 2010 is about putting Americans back to work with less government intrusion,” Womack told a crowd ofabout 100 at Embassy Suites.
Womack said he wouldfight for a balanced budget, lower taxes, “traditional marriage” and a strong national defense. He also said he opposes abortion.
“Voters will likely have to pick from a number of conservative-sounding candidates ... but the real test in this race for Congress is that voters will have to discern between talk and action,” Womack said. “Take a look at my record.”
Womack said during his tenure as mayor, he has presided over a period of “unprecedented growth” in Rogers, with “more than $1 billion in investment.”
“No other candidate will have that record and a 30-year record in the U.S. military,” he said.
Womack is a retired colonel and 30-year veteran with the Arkansas Army NationalGuard. He said he led the first Army National Guard unit called to active duty in the Middle East after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“There will be no other candidate in this race who has a better record on issues of illegal immigration,” said Womack, referring to his work to get Rogers police officers authorized to help enforcefederal immigration laws.
After the announcement in Rogers, Womack traveled to Fort Smith and Russellville, his boyhood hometown, to announce his candidacy in those corners of the 3rd District. Womack said he will visit Harrison on Monday.
Boozman’s announcement on Feb. 6 that he is running for U.S. Senate has spurred Republican candidates to jump into the 3rd District congressional race. The seat has been held by the GOP since 1967.
Other announced Republican candidates include Bernie Skoch, a retired brigadier general from Elkins; Gravette businessman Damon Wallace; and Steve Lowry of Fayetteville, a retired agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Skoch (pronounced Scotch) was the only Republican to announce a candidacy aimed at unseating Boozman as the Republican nominee since the Rogers optometrist took office in 2001. Skoch announced his candidacy Aug. 3.
State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe of Rogers plans to announce her candidacy for the Republican nomination at 11 a.m. today at Embassy Suites. Boone County Judge Mike Moore said he will announce Monday.
David Whitaker, former assistant city attorney in Fayetteville, also plans to announce his candidacy Monday. Whitaker will be the first Democrat to enter the race. Independent Jerry Coon of Rogers, who works in the home office of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in Bentonville, also is running for the 3rd District seat.
The primaries are May 18, with a filing period of March 1-8. The general election is Nov. 2.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 02/13/2010