ROGERS — State Democratic Chairman Will Bond tried to recruit a candidate for Rogers’ state representative seat and was keenly disappointed to fall short in this election, he told a crowd of about 100 on Monday.
The state party is aware of and responsive to Benton County Democrats' desire for a more vigorous effort in their county. “More people voted for Gov. Mike Beebe in Benton County in the last election than did in Washington County,” Bond said.
Democrats outside of Rogers need Benton County Democrats' help, Bond said in his lunch speech to the Benton County Democrats Club. He encouraged club members to volunteer and contribute to campaigns in Washington County and the region. “Look outside your borders,” he said. The party’s legislative majority is at stake, he said. The meeting took place at the Elks Club in Rogers.
“Who thinks Gov. (Mike) Beebe is doing a great job?” Bond asked. After a round of applause, Bond asked: “Who thinks he’s doing that alone?” A Democratic majority supports and advances the governor’s agenda, he said. A Republican majority will oppose much of what the governor would do simply because Beebe is a Democrat, Bond said.
“He’s a little late,” said Mike Sevak, Benton County Republican chairman, of efforts to find candidates in the future in Rogers. “We’re concentrating on this election and I can’t say we’ve lined up a candidate for Rogers yet, but we have had someone express interest.” State Rep. Debra Hobbs, R-Rogers, is unopposed for re-election this year but will be term-limited after this next term.
It was the Democratic-controlled Legislature that made Arkansas one of the four states in the United States that balanced its budget in all three of the latest budget cycles, Bond said.
President Barack Obama is unpopular in the state and the president’s re-election campaign has conceded the state to opponent Mitt Romney, Bond said. Republican legislative candidates seem to hope voters “dislike President Obama more than they love Arkansas,” he said. The Democratic record in the Legislature is one to be proud of, he said. “We made the tough choices and balanced the budget” he said. The Legislature also cut taxes “for everyone, not just some” by reducing the state sales tax on groceries.