By Anthony Childress
Paxton News Bureau

JONESBORO — It was show time Monday afternoon for six of the eight candidates hoping to become the next 1st District congressman to put their best feet — and faces — forward to a Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce audience.

All the candidates are looking ahead to the May 18 party preferential primary election.

Four of the six Democrats seeking their party’s nomination to succeed Berry were on hand — former Berry Chief of Staff Chad Causey of Jonesboro, former state Rep. Tim Wooldridge of Paragould, state Rep. David Cook of Williford and Mountain Home businessman Terry Green — while the other two, state Sen. Steve Bryles of Blytheville and Ben Ponder of Mountain Home, were unable to take part.

Both Republicans battling for that party’s nominee slot — Jonesboro agricultural broadcaster and businessman Rick Crawford and former congressional aide Princella Smith of Wynne — participated.

Forum setup

Each candidate had a two-minute introduction. Thereafter, they drew from a list of 14 questions, with each candidate answering one, before offering a closing pitch to the audience. Following are the questions and answers from each candidate.

What is the national deficit’s impact on the American economy?

Smith: “I’m fundamentally conservative. I think that people want to see their elected officials be fiscally responsible. I see the deficit as a huge issue. The question is what are we doing to enable job creation? It’s immoral to continue to send this deficit higher. It’s immoral to send anyone to Congress who doesn’t believe in dealing with it.”

Why are you qualified to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives?

Wooldridge: “You have to earn the right to ask for the vote. We need real people in Congress, and it’s so important to able to relate to what families face, and I know that from raising a family. I remember when my dad told me that I was the people’s hired hand as a legislator. I understand that I’m there for the people. The capacity to help is so very important. I will be that hired hand, that servant to the district.”

What role should the federal government play in environmental issues?

Crawford: “I believe it should about conservation first, and that is something our farmers know and understand. Government should stay out of our business with regard to our carbon footprint and things like cap and trade [legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions], which I feel is a bad idea. We can start by implementing common-sense practices. We already do that here in the 1st District in our farming practices. We need more sound science on areas like cap and trade.”

How would you change the way in which Congress enacts legislation?

Green: “I feel that things are handled pretty well now. I think the Congress is doing a marvelous job. I think the partisan bickering is something you hear on Fox News or CNN. I will try to simplify things, I think that’s important on issues like the health-care reform bill that was so dad-gum complicated. It will have to be changed, massaged and simplified.”

How would you work with Arkansas’ farmers?

Cook: “Farming is the most important industry in Arkansas, with one out of six jobs being agri-related. We’ve got to help the farmers and make sure their subsidies aren’t stripped. We have to do other things to help them keep moving. We need to look at areas like our trade policies and agreements with other countries (including Cuba and South Korea). I understand the issues our farmers face.”

Why do you want to be a congressman?

Causey: “I want to serve you. I feel I’ve got enough energy, experience and common sense to represent all of you well. We face a choice of continuing to bicker or take action, roll up our sleeves and go to work. Bringing ideas to the table matters, as well being ready to tackle things like dropping the word ‘future’ from the I-555 project, making sure Medicare is there for future generations and focusing on infrastructure projects like four-laning Arkansas 226.”

Opening, closing

All of the candidates were afforded open and closing statements. Smith emphasized a belief in education to lift people out of poverty and create jobs and other opportunities in the district, noting that “we have a 28 percent dropout rate” among high school students here. She also discussed being a descendant of educators, ministers and a sharecropper.

Wooldridge talked about his qualifications to serve based on years as a state lawmaker, in the health-care industry and pointed out that people are “fightin’ and cryin’ mad” about government today and want a clean, fresh start by sending representatives to Washington who can get things done. He said he has a “level of maturity” in making family decisions and also mentioned jobs and technology as top concerns.

Crawford touted his small business background and said his radio group recently cranked up new programming, allowing him to hire more people and create jobs. He also talked about his two children as being motivation for seeking to replace Berry and said the nation was spending too much money on debt. Crawford said the district and nation needed “people who are citizen legislators” who understand how to make a payroll and sustain the economy and way of life.

Green told the crowd he wanted its support to have more more jobs in Arkansas for them, their children, families and friends. He added that higher employment “means more tax revenue” to get things done to benefit everyone. He cited outsourcing of American jobs overseas as a continuing problem and vowed to concentrate heavily on economic development and expansion.

Cook said as a state legislator he had voted reduce the state’s grocery tax, increase its minimum wage and pledged to “be a scrappy dog” in fighting for the district. He added that the nation had to address its trade deficit and take a stand for doing what was right no matter the odds. He called himself a “good conservative Democrat with a liberal heart.”

Causey wrapped up the forum by asking voters to support him, explaining that he had been raised by a single mother who worked hard to support her family and instilled a work ethic in him. He said he has “never been handed a thing in my life” and emphasized a belief that votes are something to be earned. He then discussed his year s of working for Berry in all 26 counties of the district and understands what people expect from their congressman.