FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) - The two major party candidates for Lieutenant Governor in Arkansas are touting their business backgrounds as they enter the final stretch of campaigning before Tuesday’s (Nov. 4) election.
Republican Tim Griffin and Democrat John Burkhalter both say their backgrounds in small business make them qualified for the position.
“I have had my own small business, and I have been a federal prosecutor,” Griffin said. “I did serve for a time under President Bush, and I am proud of that.”
“I have been involved in small businesses since I graduated from college,” Burkhalter said. “I owned most of those small businesses, I am definitely the small business guy.”
Burkhalter said one area he wants to focus on is the state's tax structure.
“We definitely need more tax reform. We need to continue to lower the individual income tax,” Burkhalter said.
Griffin said he will review how state agencies are structured and look at other reforms.
“I will reform the tax code, reform the regulatory structure, top to bottom review of our agencies, and [address] lawsuit reform,” Griffin said.
Burkehalter also responded to a recent 5NEWS interview where he said he had been a Chippendale-style dancer years ago.
“In my twenties I had a lot of jobs. The job that you are talking about, I had for a very short period of time,” Burkhalter said. “I would never put anybody`s job down, no matter what it is, because I have worked a lot of tough jobs.”
Griffin said he had heard the reports, but declined to comment.
“I am going to let [Burkhalter] address that. I think people can make their own judgments on that,” Griffin said.
Libertarian Christopher Olson also is running for Lieutenant Governor.
The seat became vacant earlier this year, when Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr stepped down after an Ethics Commission investigation into improper spending.