Bill Halter for Arkansas Lt. Governor - In The News

HOLT CAUGHT IN A LIE!!! read the article here

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 16:13:01 -0400

Oct 11, 2:58 PM EDT

Ark. Lt. Gov. hopeful criticized over ads

By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Republican lieutenant governor nominee Jim Holt said Wednesday he regretted running radio ads that inaccurately said Democratic rival Bill Halter spent 25 years in California.

Holt said he pulled the ads after they ran for two days in two cities, but said he still thinks it's relevant to criticize the amount of time Halter has spent out of state.

Halter lived in California for four years while attending college and worked in Washington during the Clinton administration. A Halter spokesman said the Holt ads were "desperate" and that an apology is due.

LT. GOVERNOR HOPEFULS TRADE BARBS ON SCHOOLS

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:47:28 -0400

BY MICHAEL R. WICKLINE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

   A day after suggesting that lieutenant governor candidate Jim Holt flip-flopped on school district consolidation, candidate Bill Halter’s campaign said Tuesday that Holt’s legislative voting record shows he often opposes the interests of rural schools.
nbsp; Holt’s counter was that Halter “just doesn’t get it” because Halter hasn’t served in the Legislature. Holt also claims that he has “rural school advocates” to defend his voting record.
   This exchange of dueling news releases came in the campaign for state government’s No. 2 elected office, the occupant of which presides over the state Senate, breaks the rare tie vote in the Senate and serves as acting governor when the governor is out of state or unable to serve.
   Halter, a Democrat from North Little Rock, is a business consultant and former Clinton administration official. Holt is a Republican state senator from Springdale.
   Late Monday, Halter spokesman Bud Jackson accused Holt of “a blatant flip-flop” over school district consolidation.
   Halter cited a Sept. 16, 2002, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article in which Holt said that the state should have something closer to 100 school districts rather than the 310 it had at that time.
   “The state has 100 representatives,” Holt said in the article, referring to the members of the House of Representatives. “Why couldn’t we have 100 school districts based upon school enrollment?” The article was about his state Senate race, which he won in November 2002.
   Holt called Jackson’s remarks “absurd,” contending that saying he hasn’t protected rural schools is like unsuccessful Republican challenger Chuck Banks calling Holt “a tax and spend liberal.”
   Holt said Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Jim Argue, D-Little Rock, thought “we should consolidate,” and he had been in the House only a year and a half when he made his remarks.
   “I was referring only to administration and I hadn’t studied the issue fully when people asked what we should do to meet the court’s mandate and have a more efficient school system,” he said. “After researching it fully, I saw there was no savings to anyone, only expense.” Holt said he hasn’t voted to consolidate even one school.
   In November 2002, the state Supreme Court ruled that the state’s public school financing system was unconstitutional.
   Halter’s campaign followed up with a news release carrying the headline, “Holt Follows up Flip-Flop with Fib.”
   Jackson said Holt’s votes prove he often opposed the best interests of rural schools.
   He said Holt, among other things:
   Proposed a constitutional amendment in 2003 that would have gutted the funding of small and rural school districts.
   Was the only state senator in 2004 to vote against providing incentives for recruiting and retaining teachers in small school districts with fewer than 1,000 students.
   Voted two times against increasing per pupil funding in this year’s special session and another time in 2005.
   Voted against a measure that created a new formula for distributing state aid to school districts in 2003 in response to the state Supreme Court’s 2002 ruling declaring the school financing unconstitutional.
   Holt said that because Halter hasn’t been in the Legislature, he doesn’t understand.
   “These bills had to do with government control and government spending rather than support of small schools. Are the people going to believe a liberal from California’s view on Holt’s voting record or credible witnesses who have been supporting small schools for years?” Holt asked.
   Halter received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
   In Holt’s news release, Danville School District Superintendent Jimmy Cunningham; Lavina Grandon, who heads the “Save Our Schools” organization; and Debbie Pelley of Jonesboro, a Holt campaign volunteer who has argued against consolidating rural schools, defended Holt’s voting.
   Cunningham, a former president of the Arkansas Rural Education Association, said in the news release that Holt “was one of our strongest supporters of our rural schools and one of the strongest opponents of consolidation.”

Halter, Holt trade barbs over elderly

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:57:04 -0400

BY MICHAEL R. WICKLINE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

   Lieutenant governor candidate Bill Halter, a former Social Security acting commissioner, Monday panned his foe, Jim Holt, for what he called Holt’s support for privatization of Social Security, an option Halter said would eliminate about $1 billion in annual benefits for Arkansas’ Social Security recipients beyond what they pay in taxes.
   Holt countered that he wants to protect Social Security and questioned whether Halter improved the solvency of the program.
   “It is we the people’s money in the first place and if we can get a better return on our money with greater security for our Social Security supplemental retirement plan being rock solid, then I’m all for it,” he said.
   Halter, a Democrat from North Little Rock who also served a stint as deputy commissioner for Social Security, said Social Security is not a typical issue in the race for lieutenant governor but that the candidates’ major difference of opinion on this issue is one that voters should understand when casting ballots.
   He said Social Security is a relevant issue in the race because of the program’s financial importance to the state’s elderly.
   He said he wants to be an advocate for the state’s elderly as lieutenant governor.
   Holt, a Republican state senator from Springdale, said he wonders whether Halter knows that he’s running for lieutenant governor, which doesn’t ordinarily deal with Social Security.
   Halter “needs to be focused on real state solutions that will put more money in the hands of Arkansans,” Holt said, saying the state needs to reduce taxes.
   Halter said Holt supports the Constitution Party and that it advocates eliminating Social Security and calls Medicare “socialized medicine.” Halter noted that Holt was the 2003 keynote speaker at the party’s convention in Arkansas and Holt’s former campaign managers have served as the Constitution Party’s chairman in Arkansas.
   Holt said the Constitution Party is mainly Democrats and Republicans who don’t feel adequately represented by their government.
   “We are trying to bring people of Arkansas together, and the diversity of our campaign is proof of that. Of course, my opponents will try to say ridiculous statements when they are trying to win an election,” Holt said.

Holt asked if wage stance of Hutchinson is Socialist

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:40:29 -0400

BY MICHAEL R. WICKLINE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

The campaign of Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Bill Halter asked his Republican opponent Thursday whether the Republican candidate for governor is a socialist.
GOP lieutenant governor nominee Jim Holt brought up socialism in June when he was defending his opposition to a state minimum wage increase and expansion of pre-kindergarten programs.

HALTER LEADING HOLT BY 9%

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 18:04:33 -0400

From KTHV Channel 11

Survey Arkansas Poll Results: Lt. Governor's Race

According to our exclusive Survey Arkansas poll, it's the closest statewide race so far. We’re talking about the lieutenant governor's race.

Of 509 likely voters, Democratic candidate Bill Halter holds a nine-point lead over Republican Sen. Jim Holt. Halter gets 48 percent of the vote to Holt’s 39 percent, with 12 percent undecided.

Halter wins Dem. runoff for Ark. Lt. Gov

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:49:40 -0400

Halter wins Dem. runoff for Ark. Lt. Gov, Shoffner wins treasurer's runoff

By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Former Clinton administration official Bill Halter - who abandonded a short-lived bid for governor to run for lieutenant governor - defeated state Sen. Tim Wooldridge in a runoff Tuesday for the Democratic Party's nomination to the state's Number 2 elected position.

Halter gains teachers union endorsement

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:28:08 -0400

Halter gains teachers union endorsement

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- The Arkansas Education Association on Thursday endorsed Bill Halter in the Democratic runoff for lieutenant governor, despite the group's opposition to lotteries to fund education, one of Halter's key proposals.

The group, which has about 18,000 members, voted to recommend Halter in the June 13 runoff against Sen. Tim Wooldridge of Paragould, the group and Halter announced.

"We believe he's going to bring some fresh ideas and a new approach to state government, and we hope to work well with him in the future," AEA President Dan Marzoni said.

Ark AFL-CIO endorses Halter in Dem Lt Gov runoff

Fri, 26 May 2006 15:36:34 -0400

Ark AFL-CIO endorses Halter in Dem Lt Gov runoff

By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Arkansas' largest labor organization on Friday endorsed former Clinton administration official Bill Halter in the Democratic runoff for lieutenant governor.

Arkansas AFL-CIO president Alan Hughes said the union's 25-member executive board voted unanimously on Thursday to support Halter in the June 13 runoff against Sen. Tim Wooldridge of Paragould. The winner of the runoff faces Republican Sen. Jim Holt of Springdale in the Nov. 7 general election.

Halter has 'vision, for Arkansas

Wed, 17 May 2006 16:21:18 -0400

Halter has ‘vision’ for Arkansas

By Janice Fae Mitchell, Guard Staff Writer

(Batesville, AR)

Published Wednesday May 17, 2006

One of the four Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor said Friday in Batesville that he feels good about the substance of his campaign, and that he would like for voters to hear his vision for the state.

“We’ve got 11 (now eight) days to go before the primary election. Things that divert attention away from issues I find really frustrating,” Bill Halter said. “We get this opportunity once every four years to have voters talk about the things that are important to the state and set a future direction, and to have it consumed with things that don’t matter — personal attacks and all this other stuff — I just find it very frustrating.”

HALTER LEADS IN LATEST INDEPENDENT MEDIA POLL

Mon, 15 May 2006 20:03:14 -0400

THV Exclusive: Lieutenant Governor Poll

In a Democratic primary for Arkansas lieutenant governor, Bill Halter wins comfortably, according to a SurveyUSA poll of 491 likely democratic primary voters conducted exclusively for Today's THV. The primary will be held Tuesday, May 23.

Halter gets 41 percent of the Democratic primary vote. Tim Wooldridge gets 20 percent. Mike Hathorn gets 14 percent. Jay Martin trails with 6 percent. And 20 percent of Democratic primary voters are undecided.

A candidate and negative campaigning

Wed, 10 May 2006 16:13:20 -0400

A candidate and negative campaigning
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

By David Sanders

I continue to be amazed by Mike Hathorn's tenacious candidacy to become the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. He is kicking and scratching his way toward possible nomination by pulling out all the stops and attacking those who stand in his way. The current object of his torment is front-runner Bill Halter.

Hathorn has filed an ethics complaint against Halter, claiming that he violated state campaign finance laws 150 times by shifting dollars from his one-time gubernatorial campaign to his lieutenant governor campaign. Then there was the recent lawsuit filed challenging Halter's residency, which was filed by a law firm with ties to Hathorn's campaign.

Ark. candidates expecting babies instead of kissing them

Sun, 07 May 2006 00:17:22 -0400

May 6, 1:10 PM EDT

Ark. candidates expecting babies instead of kissing them

By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Apparently these politicians don't have enough babies to kiss.

This year is turning out to be a fertile one for several candidates for office in Arkansas, with the wives of at least four political hopefuls expecting and the wife of one candidate for lieutenant governor celebrating the birth of his ninth child.

Checking in with the LG candidates

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 12:35:09 -0400

Checking in with the LG candidates
Sunday, Apr 30, 2006

By David Sanders

We are inching closer to the Democrat and Republican primaries. The only contests that are generating any bipartisan excitement at all are the races for the No. 2 spot (lieutenant governor). Democratic and Republican candidates are hard at work, at least some of them, generating interest and excitement. It's time again to check in with the candidates.

The Democrats:

Bill Halter - When you're ahead you're a huge target. His money advantage, which has drawn the ire of some of his opponents, has funded a few well-produced television ads with sizable media buys that have helped solidify his place at the top. That money, which contributors had given to his short-lived governor's campaign, has been returned to the donors. Many of those same donors turned around and issued a check to Halter's lieutenant governor campaign. Not everyone is happy with that arrangement, mainly Mike Hathorn.

Halter leads in fundraising among lieutenant governor hopefuls

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 23:07:55 -0400

Halter leads in fundraising among lieutenant governor hopefuls

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Former Clinton administration official Bill Halter reported Monday that he had raised $838,600 during March, more than any of his three opponents for the Democratic nomination.

Halter is running against former state Rep. Mike Hathorn of Huntsville, Sen. Tim Wooldridge of Paragould and state Rep. Jay Martin of North Little Rock

Halter lent his campaign $700,300, according to his report, and spent $314,453.81, with most - $278,981.70 - going toward television advertising.

Poll shows Holt, Halter lead pack of hopefuls

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:30:31 -0400

ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
   A new poll shows North Little Rock Democrat Bill Halter and Springdale Republican Jim Holt leading in their respective party’s primaries for lieutenant governor.
   Survey USA conducted the poll Saturday-Monday for the Little Rock station KTHV, Channel 11. The primary election is May 23.
   Among the 446 likely Democratic primary voters polled — resulting in a margin of error of 4.7 percent — 33 percent of the respondents said they would vote for Halter if the primary was held on the day they were contacted.