With all these endorsement editorials coming these days, you'd think the Republicans were the only ones having a primary. They most certainly are not. This state might be flipped red for the long term, but there are pockets of Democratic strongholds. For example, certain precincts in central Arkansas.
There are a couple of candidates, at least, who deserve to win their Democratic primary. Both are up-and-comers that their party and their state can be proud of:
There are a couple of highly educated and well-spoken candidates in the race for state House of Representatives District 35. But we think Andrew Collins could work best with what will surely be a Republican House for the next several elections.
For years, the commentariat has said a centrist could never win a primary. You'd better be a fire-eater, and breather, if you wanted to win a primary in either party. So how about this for the first few words on Andrew Collins' website: "Politicians, pundits, and social media can make America seem hopelessly divided and unable to find common ground. But we Arkansans have a lot in common. We value education, opportunity . . . ."
Common ground? That's what you lead with? Apparently civility isn't out of style.
As for positions, he seems a reliable Democrat, but as a governor named Huckabee once said of his own beliefs, he ain't mad about it. Charter schools should be complementary to the public ones. Arkansas Works is working. The GIF program should be a thing of the past. Red-flag laws and universal background checks are smart ideas. And, "Introducing people to the prison system is a good way to see they return." So why not find other options for many offenders?
Democrats would do well for this parent, attorney, advocate for the homeless and Little Rock native to go far in their party. And he's just starting out.
On the federal level, Clarke Tucker could give U.S. Rep. French Hill a real run come November. As much as we like Congressman Hill's record and personal integrity, and as big an advantage as he'll likely have in Arkansas' 2nd District this fall, every politician should answer to voters come election time. And have an opponent from the loyal opposition who has the resources to wage a real campaign.
Clarke Tucker is a two-term state lawmaker with his own special personal story--one that's been told many times in the public prints. The guy's been in politics since Central High. And he seems especially interested in health care, which figures.
He seems reliably Democratic, too, and not always in the best way. His website says he wants to "eliminate unreasonable and discriminatory voter ID laws." Just the unreasonable and discriminatory ones? And it says he would oppose "funding of for-profit charter schools." Just the for-profit ones?
But criticism from this quarter will probably help him in his primary. Which is the point of an endorsement, no?
Word around the campfire is that national Democrats like the idea of putting Clarke Tucker on the November ballot. That's no surprise. There's a lot to like in the young man.
So let's vote. There are a lot of good candidates this year. No matter which primary you prefer.
Editorial on 05/11/2018