Arkansas Republican Lt Governor Candidates

The Washington County Republican Women held a forum of the Lt Governor Candidates, Chuck Banks, Jim Holt, and Doug Matayo. The candidates had opening and closing statements and a number of questions asked by a moderator.

Chuck Banks called himself a Ronald Reagan Republican and says he brings experience and electability.
Jim Holt said he has experience as well as being trained in critical thinking.
Doug Matayo said that he was pro-life, pro-gun and was for shrinking and streamlining the government.

Lt Governor is considered by some to be a step down in Arkansas' politics, what did they think of that? Banks stated that when it comes to a job you make it what you want it to be. Holt said it was another way for him to serve. Matayo wanted to use the office to do more economic development for the state. He'd also use the office as a bridge between the governor and the legislature.

The candidates were asked about eminent domain within Arkansas. Doug Matayo stated that there were areas within the current legislation that needed to be tighten up. Parts of the TIF legislation needed to be clarified. Banks echoed what Matayo said and Holt commented on judges over-reaching.

Of the three candidates I was most impressed by Doug Matayo. He was very knowledgeable, has more political experience, and had very clear objectives. I was least impressed with Jim Holt. He has no clear idea what he wants to do as Lt Governor(other than putting in cameras) and he come across as being full of himself. Chuck Banks is a real nice guy and he seems like he's a real charmer. He's a little weak on ideas, but I'd chose him over Holt.

I talked to Doug afterwards and asked him about economic development in Arkansas. He said we needed to lure industry into the state, to make manufacturing incentives. Arkansas needed to update and go global. He mentioned a white paper by The Murphy Commission, An Arkansas Policy Foundation Initiative Here He said he supported the ideas within the paper. I asked him about illegal immigration to which he responded that the current laws needed to be enforced. It's too bad that he didn't vote no on HB1525.

As I left I was given a hand-out which, when I spoke with the woman, I was under the impression it was by the American Family Association. Later, when I looked at the hand-out, on the very last page at the very bottom of the page was the web site for Jim Holt. The paper was a list of bills that Holt voted against and Matayo voted for. I think Jim Holt should make it plain that it's his campaign that's distributing this hand-out instead of the AFA.