Agreement abounds with candidates at Benton County forum
Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
BENTONVILLE — The candidates for contested legislative seats in Benton County found a lot to agree on Tuesday night, especially that the state should play a larger role enforcing illegal immigration.
There’s been a debate in recent years about how much immigration enforcement is appropriate by local and state governments. Six candidates who met at a Republican Party forum in Bentonville said they support local enforcement programs such as those begun last year in Rogers, Springdale and by the Benton and Washington counties’ sheriffs offices.
Vickey Boozman of Cave Springs, running for the District 99 House seat, said the state should also help the federal government enforce laws that prohibit “harboring” of illegal aliens. She said society seems to forget the illegal part.
“What other laws are we going to decide we don’t have to obey ?” she asked. “It’s very irritating to me that people have the gall to say, ‘ Because I need this person, it’s all right to break the law. ’” Her opponent, Tim Summers of Bentonville, said all levels of government should put more resources toward enforcement of illegal immigration.
“I’m not sure we don’t already have sufficient laws on the books,” he said, adding that it takes joint effort at all levels of government.
Their friendly exchange was typical of the atmosphere at the forum hosted by the Benton County Republican Committee. About 70 people attended, nodding in agreement and clapping at the answers to questions on taxes and property rights, among others.
“Can I just say I agree with everybody ?” County Clerk Mary Lou Slinkard said at one point to the crowd’s laughter. She’s running for the District 100 seat in western Benton County.
She said her 14 terms as county clerk have given her the experience necessary to take a “common sense approach” to legislating.
Her opponent Byron Warren, a Gravette City Council member, said he’s found that lawmakers often don’t know the issues.
“There’s so many things overlooked, a lot of bad bills passed, because legislators didn’t take the time to read and understand what they’re voting on,” he said.
Seven of nine legislative seats in Benton County are open this year, with no incumbent running for re-election. But even with all those seats being vacated, there are only three contested races in Benton County.
All the candidates are Republicans, so the elections will be decided with the May 20 primary unless Green Party or write-in candidates pose a challenge for some seats.
Summing up their priorities toward the end of the forum, the candidates highlighted a few areas they’re likely to disagree on in the coming weeks.
Linda Bisbee of Rogers, running for the District 95 House seat, said her top priority is to continue the region’s strong record of regional legislative leadership in Little Rock.
“That’s not easy, believe me,” Bisbee said. Her husband, Sen. Dave Bisbee, has been in the Legislature for 15 years but is term-limited.
Bisbee’s opponent, Duncan Baird of Lowell, said it’s important for Northwest Arkansas conservatives to work on winning the Legislature for Republicans.
“If we want to become the majority party in the state, we can’t go along to get along with Democrats,” he said.
Though the GOP dominates politics in Benton County, the party is outnumbered 3-to-1 by Democrats in the Legislature.
Baird said he’d refuse to accept any gift from a lobbyist in Little Rock, saying it “really burns me up” that lawmakers take free meals, for example, from lobbyists.
Bisbee said afterward that she disagrees.
“I do not believe that’s an issue,” she said. “I think that sometimes a lobbyist will take a legislator out to get their point across and to get time to visit with them, but as far as far as influencing votes, I don’t think that happens.”
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
