Although Arkansas elects its governor and lieutenant governor separately, a couple of Democratic hopefuls are nonetheless running as a ticket of sorts.
The eventual nominees from a party typically back each other for the general election; but this alliance comes well before the primaries and is a departure from the political norm.
Mike Ross and John Burkhalter, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, last week endorsed each other and pledged, if elected, to work together on an economic development agenda.
Both will face competition from Democrats and from Republicans for the posts held now by term-limited Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat, and Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, a Republican who has not yet said whether he will seek re-election or try for another office.
Ross is the former 4th District congressman who faces former Lt. Gov.
Bill Halter in the 2014 Democratic primary for governor. Burkhalter is a Little Rock businessman and state highway commissioner who had been considering a run for governor himself.
Burkhalter announced last week that he would instead run for lieutenant governor.
His announcement came as another Democrat, Dianne Curry, said she, too, is seeking the nomination for lieutenant governor. Curry is president of the Little Rock School Board.
Halter and Curry will do as expected and focus on their own races right now, while Republicans prepare for their own primary.
There are three announced Republican candidates for governor - former 3rd District Rep.
Asa Hutchinson, state Rep.
Debra Hobbs and Curtis Coleman, a Little Rock businessman. Presumably, other prospective candidates for lieutenant governor are awaiting a decision from Darr.
Notably, neither Halter nor Curry had much to say about the Ross-Burkhalter tandem. Remember, Halter could wind up on the Democratic ticket with Burkhalter or Curry with Ross. Voters will make the pairing.
Of course, Ross and Burkhalter expect to win their respective nominations and this mutual endorsement may help.
Both benefi t from the deal. Ross taps into whatever political base Burkhalter has as a successful businessman, former member of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and current highway commissioner. And Burkhalter, comparatively unknown, gains from Ross’ much greater name recognition and the promise from Ross to make more of the lieutenant governor’s office than it has been, assuming both are elected to the jobs.
The lieutenant governor’s part-time job is to preside over the state Senate and to fill in for the governor when the governor is out of state. The lieutenant governor could become governor under certain circumstances, as has happened in Arkansas’ recent past.
If both are elected, Ross’ idea is to name Burkhalter to head a “Governor’s Cabinet for Economic Development,” focusing on job creation. The cabinet would bring together representatives from different state agencies and others involved in the pursuit of jobs.
The idea needs some fleshing out, which it will surely get. But the political logic behind the approach is easy to see.
Four years ago, when Arkansas elected its statewide officers, voters returned Democrat Beebe to the governor’s office but put Republican Darr into the lieutenant governor’s office. Beebe’s re-election was expected but Darr surprisingly defeated former state Sen. Shane Broadway.
Beebe endorsed Broadway and they campaigned together at least in the late stages of the campaign, but Darr still won one of three statewide offices Republicans captured that year. (The others were secretary of state and land commissioner.)
It was a banner year for Republicans, who built on that success two years later in legislative races, winning majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly.
In 2014, they’re expecting to gain even more while Democrats are looking for ways to reclaim lost ground at the state Capitol.
The governor’s office is the main battleground; but, with Ross and Burkhalter running in tandem, the office of lieutenant governor will be in the conversation more, too.
Expect some awkward moments in the primary related to this alliance of two candidates. But, if they do both survive the primaries, they may be in better shape for the general election.
That’s when the Democrats who win nomination - whoever they are - face a tougher challenge.
BRENDA BLAGG IS A FREELANCE COLUMNIST AND LONGTIME JOURNALIST IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 06/19/2013