Darr: No run for governor in 2014

Lieutenant exec backs Hutchinson

Lt. Gov. Mark Darr on Tuesday ruled out running for governor next year and endorsed Republican candidate Asa Hutchinson, a former congressman and federal undersecretary of homeland secretary.

He said Hutchinson is the most qualified candidate for governor in either the Democratic or Republican parties and that Hutchinsonwould provide experienced guidance for the state with Republicans in control of the Legislature.

Another Republican,Little Rock businessman Curtis Coleman, has said he’ll launch his own bid for governor on Feb. 21.

Hutchinson said Darr is the top Republican elected official in the state and his support “is deeply appreciated and gives our campaign an early boost.”

“Mark’s leadership and endorsement will help unify our party as we seek the strongest candidate to win in 2014,” said Hutchinson, who lost a bid for governor to Democrat Mike Beebe in 2006.

Coleman, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in 2010, said he’s disappointed with Darr’s endorsement of Hutchinson.

He said he aggressively campaigned in support of Darr’s 2010 bid for lieutenant governor and it seems unwise to “create enemies” when Darr is considering a possible run for the U.S.Senate.

Darr declined to respond to Coleman’s remarks.

Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, said he’ll decide whether to run for governor once the legislative session is over. That decision would not be altered by Darr’s announcement, he added.

Former Game and Fish Commissioner Sheffield Nelson of Little Rock, a Republican nominee for governor in 1990 and 1994, said he’s had several friends approach him about running for governor as a Republican; others have encouraged him to run as an independent, he said.

He said he’s considering a possible run for governor but it’s too early to make a decision.

Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter of North Little Rock is the only announced Democratic candidate for governor. Last month, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said he was leaving the Democratic race for governor, several weeks after acknowledging an inappropriate relationship with Hot Springs lawyer Andrea Davis.

State Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter of Little Rock and Senate Democratic leader Keith Ingram of West Memphis have said they’re considering running for the Democratic nomination.

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Ross of Prescott, who said in May that he wouldn’t run for governor in 2014, isn’t saying much about speculation that he’ll change his mind now that McDaniel is out of the race.

Meanwhile, Darr, who last month denied reports that he plans to run for the U.S. Senate and would announce his candidacy in April, said he could announce his future plans before the end of the legislative session.

He said his options include “everything except [running for] governor.”

“I think I have shown that I am willing to be a team player on our side and do what I think honestly is best for the overall picture instead of maybe what my ego or title would want,” Darr said. “Am I willing to run for re-election?Sure. But at the same time, if I feel I am best suited to run for something else, I want to do that, too.”

Darr said he’s discussed a U.S. Senate bid withfirstterm U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, and that the Dardanelle Republican may try to unseat incumbent Mark Pryor, D-Little Rock, in 2014.

As for whether Cotton has decided to run for the U.S. Senate next year, Cotton spokesman Caroline Rabbit replied, “Congressman Cotton is focused right now on the coming work to address our spending-driven debt crisis. There will come a time for politics, but it’s not right now.”

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 02/13/2013

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