Many in Northwest Arkansas, like myself, are only slightly aware of who Mike Ross is. He served 10 years in the Arkansas Legislature, creating a little name recognition across the state. His 12 years as a a congressman representing the state’s 4th Congressional District bolstered his statewide presence, but it’s sometimes hard enough to find people who know who represents our Third Congressional District here in the northwest corner.
It’s safe to say Ross can be quickly identified over the next 18 months as the guy who mentions Mike Beebe’s name almost as often as he mentions his own.
Name recognition is one thing. What I’m talking about is really knowing much about how Ross represented his constituents and voted in Congress.
Northwest Arkansas voters no doubt will need this extended governor’s race to really understand who Mike Ross is.
They have a pretty good handle on Asa Hutchinson, a top GOP contender. Hailing from Benton County, he’s been our congressman and the U.S. attorney for western Arkansas. We followed his time as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and as a top leader of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security. We also learned a lot about him in his unsuccessful run for governor against Mike Beebe in 2006.
So far, his GOP opposition is Curtis Coleman, whose campaign is founded on “recovering the constitutional republic.” Unless Hutchinson implodes, Coleman isn’t a factor.
Ross at this early stage faces Bill Halter for the Democratic nomination.
Halter jumped into the governor’s race the same day it became known Attorney General Dustin McDaniel withdrew as a result of the exposure of his extramarital affair.
McDaniel’s political corpse was still warm when Halter danced around it.
McDaniel’s exodus opened the campaign to Ross’ entry. Ross believes voters who gave the GOP control of both houses of the state Legislature are nonetheless still open to a conservative Democrat.
He’s betting Democrats will prefer him against Hutchinson rather than Halter, who’s going to end up playing the liberal in the race, although he’ll still make sure his photo is taken while duck or deer hunting.
Visiting Northwest Arkansas last week, Ross, who is from Prescott but lives in Little Rock, pledged to make frequent journeys back here. He’s at ease putting himself in front of a room and engaging in questions and answers.
In his appearance at the Denny’s in Springdale, a friendly gathering appeared to be made up largely of fellow Democrats, who asked him a variety of questions. What’s his stand on gun control?
“I’m pro gun,” Ross said, quickly pivoting to a statement some Democrats might prefer hearing.
“But I disagree with Asa Hutchinson wanting to arm our teachers.”
Suddenly, heads were nodding.
Later, he reminded the group of about 25 people that Asa Hutchinson had run statewide three times “and he hasn’t won yet.”
After identifying his priorities as education and job creation, Ross also worked in a reference to Halter’s campaign about how “all of our funds are coming from in state, as opposed to others whose funds are coming from out of state.”
At least until next May’s Democratic primary, Ross will be running parallel campaigns. He can be fairly certain his ultimate battle will be with Hutchinson, but Halter promises to be aggressive and loud in fighting Ross’ Democratic Party coronation. It will in all likelihood get intense and, perhaps, a little nasty.
I asked Ross after his talk whether he’d developed any policy proposals to match up to his articulated support for (1) Allowing teachers to teach more and do less paperwork; (2) More science, technology and math education; (3) safe schools; (4) mental health care; (5) community colleges: and (6) guns. Not yet, he said, as he’d only been in the race a few days.
I asked him who he would have to run against most, Hutchinson or Halter. Dutifully dodging the premise, he said he’s not running against anyone, but for the people of Arkansas.
Thirty years in public office will make candidates say such things.
But in his talk, he said Arkansans need balance in Little Rock, particularly as evidenced by the performance of Republicans in the state Legislature that just adjourned. He said, however, he’s confident the Democrats can take back the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2014.
Perhaps Hutchinson should pick up on that whole “balance” argument.
GREG HARTON IS OPINION PAGE EDITOR FOR NWA MEDIA.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 04/29/2013