Political debates are typically low on the list of things that excite us, but Tuesday’s Arkansas TV matchup between Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her two challengers — Fred Love and Colt Shelby — pulled us in from the start.
Shelby, a Libertarian from the Arkansas River Valley town of Cecil, immediately took to the mic with a wily dig at the incumbent’s Lecterngate scandal. We were immediately hooked.
The gubernatorial candidates answered questions on an array of issues affecting Arkansans — rural health care, prison overcrowding, the LEARNS Act, data centers, even the death penalty.
Both Sanders and Love, a Democrat state senator from Pulaski County, sounded like the career politicians they are. Shelby’s rhetoric, we assume, was perfected from many Saturday nights gathered with pals around the bed of a pickup truck, where jeers are exchanged but truths are always told. (While we’re guessing, our bet is that he’s a Ford man).
We agreed with Sanders on some points — particularly that welfare shouldn’t be a lifestyle — and we applaud her for showing up to this debate (more on that later).
Of the three, Love appeared the most uneasy on a stage where answers are unscripted. In his defense, he knows the ropes of Arkansas politics, but we fear the current Republican-heavy legislature would make a meal out of a Democratic governor.
Shelby, on the other hand, isn’t the polished politician voters are used to. Shelby is a reflection of your everyday Arkansan. He didn’t sport a tie. He talks with a drawl. He swore a couple of times out of discontent: “Electricity’s too damn expensive. The water’s too damn expensive.” He was the most authentic person on the stage. Y’all, he’s one of us.
Shelby’s naysayers argue that he didn’t care about Arkansas politics until the Sanders administration suddenly showed up in his Franklin County backyard with a plan to build a prison. This may be true, but ask yourselves why anyone runs for office. It’s because they feel they can do the job better. Ask Jason Watson why he ran for sheriff. Ask Bill Rogers and Michael Ankton why they’re running for county judge.
Clark Countians, we implore you to take heed Shelby’s response to a question about data centers threatening our state’s natural resources: “The problem with data centers is where we choose to put them,” he said. “Community input is vital in these [decisions]. … It needs to come from the people first” rather than at the behest of a top county official.
Sanders has money and experience in her corner. Love, from what we’ve seen on social media, has been heavily active on the campaign trail, meeting constituents throughout the state, including, recently, Sparkman’s Sawmill Daze festival. As a Libertarian, Shelby is the underdog in this contest. Yet he’s the common person’s candidate, and most voters are just that: common people.
We encourage our readers to watch the debate to help make an informed decision at the polls.
We’re voting for Colt Shelby as Arkansas’ next governor.
Switching gears, debates held Monday featured candidates vying to represent Arkansas’ Congressional District 4, as well as those seeking U.S. Senate.
Congressman Bruce Westerman (R) has our vote on the sole fact he lives in the district he represents. While his Democrat challenger, James Russell, may have “strong ties” to the district as a former Magnolian, he now resides in Little Rock, on the outskirts of the district. If Arkadelphia city directors must live within the ward they represent, then so, too, should our congressman live in the district they represent.
Our observations on the U.S. Senate race: Hallie Shoffner (D) is hungry. Sen. Tom Cotton (R) is complacent; he reportedly skipped the debate to attend a WWII veteran’s birthday party. Jeff Wadlin (L) is dry. Both Shoffner and Wadlin campaigns have invited us to attend local meet-and-greets. Cotton made unannounced appearances at both of Arkadelphia’s universities without notifying or inviting local media, including The Arkadelphian and The Southern Standard newspaper. He’s gotten too big for his breeches. Let’s give Shoffner a chance.
Be sure to tune in to Arkansas TV on Thursday, when Secretary of State candidates will debate.
With broad experience at four different Arkansas newspapers, Joel Phelps is a longtime community journalist and the founder, publisher and editor for arkadelphian.com, an online local news website covering Arkadelphia and Clark County.
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