Here in the 3rd District on June 8th we will join together once again to choose who we will to send to Washington from this region to represent our interests and to a larger degree, the state of Arkansas. The two candidates vying in a run-off are Cecile Bledsoe and Steve Womack, both of Rogers. In vetting each candidate, I discovered distinct differences. I hope my findings in fact will aid in your decision making process.
After several personal conversations with each candidates and researching of their records, here’s what I discovered.
When speaking with State Senator Bledsoe on issues where we disagreed, she listened to my views. She understood my position and even admitted that she had learned some lessons. She seemed sincerely interested in building relationships and bringing people to the table. She also even asked if I’d be willing to put her in contact with others who shared my concerns.
On the other hand in a conversation with Roger Mayor Steve Womack, hoping to clarify his position on taxes and his pet project of Adult Wellness Centers, he seemed to me to be unwilling to listen. He actually became defensive, at one point saying: "I don't hear you coming up with any answers"
In this same conversation which occurred a week before he agreed to sign the “Americans for Tax Reform Pledge” from ATR, Mayor Womack told me and another person that he would not sign the pledge because he felt that “taxes needed to be on the table.” It was the same statement he had made in a public forum not long before this conversation. So it seemed clear this was his position. But then, about a week later, he signed the pledge saying, it had been his intention “all along to sign it on April 15th." But that also was the day when Dick Morris called him on the carpet at a Tea Party rally on the Fayetteville square for being the only candidate of eight in the race not to have already signed the no tax pledge. You can decide for yourself, considering the timing of all this and his previous denials of the pledge, how sincere his explanation was.
Additionally, in our discussion when asked why private sector business was not included in his concept of these wellness centers he said he did not include them because in his view government: “needed to have full control, to do the best job"
In conclusion Mayor Womack said to me and my companion, “I am sure I will not get your vote but that is okay I am comfortable with the supporters I already have.” So much for constituent service.
These conversations for me, reveal two very different people with vastly different approaches to the job as a congressman. One was willing – even eager - to listen and ask for even more critiques, to take personal responsibility for her own actions and all without being publicly shamed. She also made a solemn pledge to Arkansans to not make the mistakes again.
The other appeared to be border-line hostile to questions, unwilling to hold an open and objective dialogue and clearly not genuinely committed to hold the line on increasing taxes even higher than they are.
I believe more than at any other juncture, we need and expect servant leaders not leaders who expect to be served. Arrogance in any public servant is not a pretty or endearing sight. I’ll be doing a follow-up posting on their records.
Just food for thought based in personal observations and experiences~
22 comments:
Thank you for sharing! This is such an important run off. This might be a "safe" Republican seat but that doesn't necessarily mean a conservative will hold it. I hope we all realize what is at stake and go vote June 8th!
Thank you for the informantion. I will also let you know, I was speaking with a rogers police officer about a year ago. In my conversation I was asking about the curfew and why teens were still hanging out on the streets at 1 a.m. This police officer stated that their hands were tied because mayor womack had told them not to enforce the curfew. In my opinion, the law is the law and if mayor womack will not enforce that law, what other laws will he not want to enforce.
Equal Justice for All. Not pick and choose for some.
Thanks Laurie, I had already decided to vote for Senator Bledsoe and your conversations with them makes me more sure. Someone told me today they didn’t necessarily like Mayor Womack but were voting for him because they thought he would be stronger dealing with the congress and did a fine job in Rogers. Appearing stronger is not necessarily good if you are stronger for your own agenda and not willing to listen and consider other views from the voters.
Great Column! Go Cecile!
Laurie, I am glad you brought these facts to light. There IS a difference between these two candidates. Cecile is a true conservative who will stand firm on the values and issues she represents. She has proven her "toughness" in her state legislative positions. She is accessible to her consituents and knows she is accountable to them.
My primary vote did not include either of the two candidates who now are in the run off.
I fear that Cecile is not strong enough to do the job that we want in D.C. She is a Southern lady who speaks slowly. I get to where I either stop listening to her or I want to finish her comments.
I feel Womack can be stubborn and probably is not a good listener. However he will hold his own against the others in D.C.
At this point my vote will be for Womack.
It sure sounds like Bledsoe makes YOU feel more important than Womack does.
A candidate that listens, has a solid Conservative record behind her and makes a constituent important is a leader that votes for the benefit of the people and not themselves.
I have met both. Womack has an arrogance in his personality. He doesn't come across as a friendly or approachable person one as a constituent can relate to or talk to. He has promoted businesses but also increased taxes. Cecile has a consistent track record on what she stands for on Conservative principles and values as demonstrated in her state legislative position. Additionally, she works for the people and she acknowledges her people regardless of ranks, professions, color, national origin or any other difference among us. I will support her.
Like others below, I was not initially impressed with Ms. Bledsoe's personna. "Too soft-spoken," I said. But your info, Laurie, from the interviews, makes it clear to me and my entire family that Cecile deserves our vote. 3rd district, let's not get this one wrong!
If anyone thinks Cecile Bledsoe is a "pushover" I suggest you talk to
Governor Huckabee who called her a "Shiites" for opposing his tax increases, and has the support of five of the six defeated primary candidates—her opponent Womack has the support of none. She is also endorsed by Asa Hutchinson and Randy Alexander, former candidate for US Senate.
Read this post~http://www.theweeklystandard.com/blogs/terrible-seat-waste
I voted for Bledsoe in the primary and will do so again in the run off. Thanks for informing people of the real person to vote for and the reasons why.
Thank you for this information;I felt there were many good people running for this seat so I voted for one of the others. I thought I'd go with Senator Bledsoe in the runoff and now I am sure I will.Mayor Womack sounds like a RINO and not reliable as a conservative. She has my support.
Of these two "servants", it seems to me that one is a proven leader who is deeply concerned about the direction of this country, one who has fought for our Constitution, leads a sucessful city through tremendous growth (jobs) WITHOUT raising taxes. One who gives great thought to problems, concidering any and all solutions to reach the best decision. The other is a seasoned politian who will tell you what you want to hear to gain your vote. One who will follow the heard and her party - not lead. The truth is we are in serious trouble. Sometimes the truth hurts. I will vote for Womack because he is a conservative LEADER. I thought the Tea Party was about restoring America and our conservative values. You can't do that by following your party, you have to LEAD all parties
"we need and expect servant leaders"
Servants? We are not electing servants to send to Washington DC, we're electing REPRESENTITIVES!!! People to represent Arkansans and our values in the operations of the Federal government; not servants to go out and do our bidding.
Your post sounds more like a campaign against Womak than support for Bledsoe. Her record on taxes is clear... three times she has voted for taxes! THREE! I guess that's what she meant when she said she'll "not make the mistakes again."
This man will be voting for a true common sense conservative, with leadership experience... Mayor Steve Womack.
It sounds like you are supporting the 'nice' candidate. We don't need nice in DC we need a fighter and Womack better fits the bill. 3 Pro tax otes in 1 Leg session and an absolute willingness to cut deals with the dems. In my book that is a RINO and that is eactly what we do not need!
I love how Anonymous people "stand up" for their beliefs. I can assure you that Steve Womack is left of Cecile Bledsoe. He supports government run healthcare, please look at what he has accomplished in Rogers and plans to implement across the state.
He does believe that taxes are a viable option, he does believe in a pathway to citizenship.
And he is convinced that he knows better than anyone else what the solutions to America's problems are, if you don't believe me call him yourself and ask, that's what I did.
And we do need "SERVANTS" hence the words of our founders public servants. We have plenty of people telling us what to do and not listening to us.
And one last point "proven leader" is hard to prove when you are the only one considering yourself a leader, to this point I have not seen on person come alongside Steve Womack who has any standing or who does not "work" for him right now, that says alot.
Dylan I would check the votes out and put them along side the tax payer money Mayor Womack has spent in Rogers... Let's compare tax spending records.
Here are some numbers those of you who tout that Steve Womack is "a true common sense conservative".
http://mastersonlog.blogspot.com/2010/06/those-pesky-numbers_01.html
My name is Linda Womack and I have a few comments regarding the 3rd District Race. I believe that everyone needs to be afforded the opportunity to hear from both sides.
1. Steve Womack took Rogers out of deficit spending and balanced the budget every year in office.
2. Steve Womack served in the military for over 30 years, retired Colonel. He deployed to the Middle East as a Battalion Commander. He understands force structure and also understands what families face during deployment. Only about 20% of the members of Congress have military experience and they are making decisions every day that affect our Armed Forces and National Security.
3. Steve Womack is for closing the border and against Amnesty for illegal immigrants. I want to remind everyone that as a Senator, Bledsoe could have championed legislature to thwart illegal immigration (like AZ) and this did not happen under her watch. Steve Womack sent police officers to 287(g) Training and deported over 1,000 illegal immigrants.
4. Steve Womack remained positive and gracious with the other candidates during the election. Bledsoe has released negative mailers in order to mislead the public. It was just in the news that she possibly violated Federal Copyright Laws and was given a C & D Order.
5. There were two forums set up for Womack and Bledsoe to take the stage together and she would not attend, she sent her husband. A local radio station offered free air time for Womack and Bledsoe to debate and she has not accepted.
6. Steve was the March of Dimes Citizen of the Year in 2007. He is pro life and worked hard to help the March of Dimes raise money and resources for their efforts to save the lives of thousands of babies.
7. Steve believes in economic development and job creation. Take a look at the Rogers area.
I am very concerned the direction our country is heading and we need strong leadership and a strong voice in Congress. Steve is a very strong leader and a true conservative.
Isn't Huckabee's daughter working for Bledsoe's campaign? Doesn't Palin work with Huckabee at FOX?
Womack would like to say he did not raise taxes put in fact he did. He approved and helped to get passed an A&P Tax he also circumvented the voter by implementing a hook-up fee that was illegal and consequently changing it to an illegal impact fee of thousands of dollars which he and the city of Rogers were sued for.
These are several things the Washington Co TEA Party pointed out for their reason to support Bledsoe
Womack~
- did not sign the no tax pledge until heavy public/national media got involved to hold his feet to the fire
- Wal-Mart, who is favorable for the health care bill, is also supporting him
- ran a campaign where his campaign was involved in removing other competitor signs
- has not returned or participated in the original vetting for the WCTP
- has not expressed any interest in meeting with grassroots groups or to be sensitive to their concerns
- has inflated his military record
- says he has been fiscally responsible with Roger's City budget to get a report on this, check out the following blog comments at http://mastersonlog.blogspot.com/2010/06/those-pesky-numbers_01.html and also www.tolbertreport.com where it is pointed out the areas of unsustainability, the areas where the opposite of what he said would happen happened and the increase of his own salary from $43,216 when he took office to currently $115,003. The Tolbert Report tracked the normal inflationary increase would have been around $56,000.
- describes Obamacare as "the law of the land" and does not believe it will be repealed.
- Powerline blog says of him, "A safe Republican seat is a terrible thing to waste on a RINO."
- prior to signing the "no tax pledge" said, "Taxes need to be on the table,"
- in reference to questions about private sector involvement in his "wellness centers," he said, "Government needed to have full control to do the best job."
Linda-
That statement about Sara Huckabee is so disingenuous, and speaks so loudly. Let's forget the facts lets call names and discredit people.
Sara Huckabee is NOT on Bledsoes campaign, she works on Boozman's campaign. I am not exactly sure why that matters.
I do know however that Lance Cargill is on the Womack campaign.
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