Ross Faces Party Loyalists

'Brightest Blue' District Receives Former Lawmaker

FAYETTEVILLE — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross went to the “brightest blue district in the state” Friday and acquitted himself well, lawmakers said.

Ross faces former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in the Democratic primary with the potential for more candidates to announce before next year’s elections. Ross, a former south Arkansas congressman, led the “Blue Dog” coalition of conservative Democrats in Congress. That group is now out of favor with much of the party’s core supporters.

The Democratic nominee could face former congressman Asa Hutchinson or Little Rock businessman Curtis Coleman, who are the announced candidates in the Republican primary.

Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, is House minority leader among Democrats. He and Rep. David Whitaker, a fellow Democrat of Fayetteville, attended Ross’ speech before the Northwest Arkansas Political Animals Club on Friday morning. It was Leding who described his district as the “brightest blue district in the state,” referring to its support for the Democratic Party.

Ross’ answers on issues such as abortion clearly weren’t calculated to mollify party loyalists but were forthright, Leding said. Whitaker agreed.

“I thought he acquitted himself quite well today and raised his stock,” Whitaker said.

About 145 people attended the 7 a.m. breakfast meeting at the GuestHouse Hotel in Fayetteville.

After a speech on how education and economic development would be his priorities, the first question the audience posed to Ross was about abortion. He has promised to veto anti-abortion bills he considers unconstitutional but voted for very similar ones in Congress, the questioner said.

Ross called many of those federal bills “gotcha” bills designed for purely political purposes.

“In Congress, you vote on 20 bills a day,” he said. “One of them would actually do something and 19 are ‘gotcha’ bills that try and give you a voting record that can be used against you. In my district, abortion is an issue.”

Ross represented Arkansas’ 4th Congressional District from 2000 through 2012. Frustration with such partisan posturing is one of the reasons he left Congress, Ross said.

Ross said he opposes abortion but “would not sign unconstitutional legislation.”

Ross drew applause later in the questioning when he expressed outright opposition to school vouchers.

Vouchers would be government-funded and redeemable for tuition fees at a private school or other education option. Advocates argue they are a way to foster new ideas and improve education. Asked if he would support these, Ross replied: “No. Anybody in this room, if you want to send your kids to private school, that’s your business, but don’t drain the resources from our public schools.”

Friday’s appearance was Ross’ third in Northwest Arkansas since he announced April 17.

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