Ross Wins Final Gubernatorial Debate

Press Release

Detailing his plan to champion the middle class as Arkansas's next governor, Mike Ross finished the fourth and final televised debate of the 2014 gubernatorial race as the clear winner. Ross drew a clear distinction in the debate between his small town values and his plans to strengthen Arkansas's economy, create jobs and grow our middle class stood, all of which stood in sharp contrast to his opponent's career as a Washington, D.C., lobbyist.

"I learned the lessons of leadership, hard work and fair play in small town Arkansas, on my grandfather's farm, and around my parents' kitchen table," said Ross after the debate. "Congressman Hutchinson's values were shaped by his career as a Washington lobbyist, and those aren't the values we live by in Arkansas. As a lawyer and DC lobbyist, I think Congressman Hutchinson spent too much time in boardrooms and courtrooms and not enough times in living rooms and breakrooms."

Congressman Hutchinson moved from Arkansas to the D.C. suburbs, sold his house in Arkansas, registered to vote in Virginia, and eventually became a full-time Washington lobbyist.

In the debate, Ross noted that Hutchinson lobbied in part for a hotel chain that sent American jobs overseas and worked at a firm that lobbied on behalf of India and other foreign governments where too many U.S. jobs have been sent. Hutchinson sat on the boards of the subsidiaries of foreign companies, boards that exploit federal loopholes to outsource American homeland security and military contracts to foreign companies along with American jobs.

"Congressman Hutchinson was selling influence to line his own pockets while Arkansas's middle class families paid the price," said Ross after the debate. "Congressman Hutchinson was outsourcing our national security, our tax dollars and American jobs to advance his own career. My time in public service and my campaign has always been focused on strengthening Arkansas's middle class by cutting taxes, strengthening education, reducing government regulations, protecting farmers, seniors and veterans and creating more and better-paying jobs. As governor, I will be an independent leader who will bring together both Democrats and Republicans together to put good public policy over partisan politics and special interests every time."

Monday evening's debate took place at Centennial Hall inside Arkansas State University's Student Center. The debate was sponsored by the Northeast Arkansas Political Animal's Club, the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, ASU, and KAIT-TV. It was broadcast live on KAIT's digital channel, 8.2, and streamed live online.

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