State House Races to Watch in Arkansas
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: November 2, 2012
On Election Day, Arkansans will cast their votes for everything from the presidency to choosing candidates in local races.
They'll also decide who to send to the State Capitol as representatives in the legislature, since all 100 seats are up for grabs.
Four of those races stand out after candidates are criticized for things they've said or written.
We're calling these races the ones to watch:
District 26
Rep. Loy Mauch (R) faces challenger David Kizzia (D). Mauch was one of three Republican state representatives criticized for his controversial writings. In one of them, he called former President Abraham Lincoln "a war criminal," among other things. He has also defended slavery. Mauch, of Bismarck, is retired from AT&T. His campaign website notes his focus is to create new jobs, stop wasteful spending and fight for lower taxes.
David Kizzia is the city attorney for Malvern. On his campaign website he says his focus is "on making state government more responsible and accountable, helping businesses create more jobs and strenghtening our K-12 and junior college education."
District 32
Rep. Allen Kerr (R) faces challenger Barbara Graves (D). This district covers a large part of West Little Rock. A national GOP PAC has contributed to Kerr's campaign, hoping to help him hold onto the seat. Kerr runs a successful insurance agency.
Barbara Graves is also well known in Little Rock's business circle. She has owned and operated the successful Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions for decades. Graves has also served the city of Little Rock as a City Director and Vice Mayor.
District 58
Rep. Jon Hubbard (R) faces challenger Harold Copenhaver (D). Three years ago, Hubbard wrote in a self-published book that slavery was "a blessing in disguise." This year, that comment and others he made in his book "Letters to the Editor: Confessions of a Frustrated Conservative," came to light. The remarks led the Arkansas Republican Party to withdraw any further funding for his campaign. (It did the same for GOP candidates Mauch and Charles Fuqua).
Hubbard is a Vietnam veteran, former educator and former insurance company owner who still works in the industry today. His campaign website places his focus on encouraging business growth and job development in the private sector, protecting our state sovereignty, lowering taxes, protecting the rights of those yet-to-be-born, among others.
Harold Copenhaver, of Jonesboro, has made his career in insurance. Since 2001, he has focused on churches and their members. His focus in the campaign centers on fighting for jobs, working to reduce crime, and promoting education for all ages, according to his campaign website.
District 63
Charles Fuqua (R) is challenging Rep. James McLean (D). Fuqua has called for deporting all Muslims in a book he wrote last year. The comments prompted the Arkansas Republican Party to withdraw any further funding for his campaign. Fuqua, an attorney, has served in the Arkansas House before in the late 1990's. His campaign website notes three issues he is focusing on are: reducing the size of government, limiting government power and reducing taxes.
Rep. James McLean, of Batesville, is a funeral director. He has served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
They'll also decide who to send to the State Capitol as representatives in the legislature, since all 100 seats are up for grabs.
Four of those races stand out after candidates are criticized for things they've said or written.
We're calling these races the ones to watch:
District 26
Rep. Loy Mauch (R) faces challenger David Kizzia (D). Mauch was one of three Republican state representatives criticized for his controversial writings. In one of them, he called former President Abraham Lincoln "a war criminal," among other things. He has also defended slavery. Mauch, of Bismarck, is retired from AT&T. His campaign website notes his focus is to create new jobs, stop wasteful spending and fight for lower taxes.
David Kizzia is the city attorney for Malvern. On his campaign website he says his focus is "on making state government more responsible and accountable, helping businesses create more jobs and strenghtening our K-12 and junior college education."
District 32
Rep. Allen Kerr (R) faces challenger Barbara Graves (D). This district covers a large part of West Little Rock. A national GOP PAC has contributed to Kerr's campaign, hoping to help him hold onto the seat. Kerr runs a successful insurance agency.
Barbara Graves is also well known in Little Rock's business circle. She has owned and operated the successful Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions for decades. Graves has also served the city of Little Rock as a City Director and Vice Mayor.
District 58
Rep. Jon Hubbard (R) faces challenger Harold Copenhaver (D). Three years ago, Hubbard wrote in a self-published book that slavery was "a blessing in disguise." This year, that comment and others he made in his book "Letters to the Editor: Confessions of a Frustrated Conservative," came to light. The remarks led the Arkansas Republican Party to withdraw any further funding for his campaign. (It did the same for GOP candidates Mauch and Charles Fuqua).
Hubbard is a Vietnam veteran, former educator and former insurance company owner who still works in the industry today. His campaign website places his focus on encouraging business growth and job development in the private sector, protecting our state sovereignty, lowering taxes, protecting the rights of those yet-to-be-born, among others.
Harold Copenhaver, of Jonesboro, has made his career in insurance. Since 2001, he has focused on churches and their members. His focus in the campaign centers on fighting for jobs, working to reduce crime, and promoting education for all ages, according to his campaign website.
District 63
Charles Fuqua (R) is challenging Rep. James McLean (D). Fuqua has called for deporting all Muslims in a book he wrote last year. The comments prompted the Arkansas Republican Party to withdraw any further funding for his campaign. Fuqua, an attorney, has served in the Arkansas House before in the late 1990's. His campaign website notes three issues he is focusing on are: reducing the size of government, limiting government power and reducing taxes.
Rep. James McLean, of Batesville, is a funeral director. He has served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
