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Attorney General announces she is seeking governor’s seat in 2022

Attorney General announces she is seeking governor’s seat in 2022

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LITTLE ROCK— Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said Wednesday she's running for governor in 2022, setting up a potentially crowded and expensive Republican primary.

Rutledge is the second candidate to announce a bid to succeed Republican Gov.

Asa Hutchinson, who is barred by term limits from seeking re-election. Lt.

Gov. Tim Griffin has also said he's running, while former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Senate President Jim Hendren have said they're considering runs.

'I think it's important we focus on the future of the state of Arkansas,' Rutledge told The Associated Press. Rutledge said she was announcing earlier than expected but said, 'that way the people of Arkansas recognize they have a choice and a choice in a proven record.'

Rutledge was first elected attorney general in 2014 and won re-election in 2018. She's aligned herself with President Donald Trump, including signing on to a lawsuit that seeks the repeal of the federal health overhaul. Rutledge has also defended the state's abortion restrictions and its efforts to execute multiple inmates before a lethal injection drug expired in 2017.

Rutledge had been viewed as a likely candidate for governor and ramped up spending on public service announcements featuring her talking about vaping and other issues.

In a news release announcing her bid, Rutledge said that as governor she would 'work to make Arkansas first in everything from job growth to tax reform to ensuring first class-education for every child regardless of zip code or economic status.'

Griffin has also appeared in TV ads paid for by a nonprofit promoting lower taxes and STEM education. 'I welcome Leslie to the governor's race and will continue to take my conservative message of growing jobs through lower taxes and fighting wasteful spending to all 75 counties in Arkansas,' Griffin said in a statement.

But Sanders' possible candidacy has overshadowed the race, and the president's former chief spokeswoman has been getting reacquainted with her home state through visits to GOP dinners around Arkansas.

Sanders' father, Mike Huckabee, served as the state's governor for 10 1/2 years.

Sanders, who couldn't immediately be reached for comment, has said she's seriously considering the race but is focused on helping elect Trump and other Republicans. She and her husband in May launched a nonprofit to offer forgivable loans to small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Hendren, who is also Hutchinson's nephew, said he doesn't have a timeline for deciding.

'I think people are ready for perhaps a different approach from what we've seen so far,' he said.

Arkansas is a solidly Republican state where the GOP holds all statewide and federal offices, and a majority of both chambers of the Legislature.

No Democratic candidates have yet announced plans to run for governor.

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JONESBORO — The Edge Coffeehouse & Eatery is closed for business after the owner of the establishment was arrested Monday on charges that he embezzled nearly $1.6 million from taxpayers.

Kade Holliday, the former county clerk, also owns the restaurant, to which he has funneled money into throughout the downturn in the economy.

He has paid for numerous repairs and renovations that took place while the business was closed and provided a paycheck to those involved.

County Judge Marvin Day said that he met with The Edge manager, who works contractually with the business, on Wednesday morning “to try to open a dialogue about what they need.”

Day said he wanted it to be clear that he wanted The Edge to continue business and for the county to get back the money that appears to have been stolen from taxpayers.

The Edge employed at least 20 people.

“We don’t know what the perfect outcome would be for any involved,” Day said.

He said it could be possible to pursue a partnership with the county. But he is unsure whether that is legally possible.

“Our initial intent is in no way to stop that business,” Day said. “That’s not going to get the taxpayers’ money back.”

Nor does Day think it would be profitable to auction off The Edge.

“We here in Craighead County love business,” Day said about local businesses and the opportunities they bring.

The Edge’s managers include Brian and Sarah Nobles, according to the business’ liquor license, which took months to obtain.

The Edge is in an old home beside the Arkansas State University campus. It’s the only coffee shop of its kind in the city, and rivals Onyx in Fayetteville and Community Bakery in Little Rock.

Because of the county’s civil suit against Holliday, all his assets are frozen,

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Attorney General Leslie Rutledge STATE NEWS

including payroll for The Edge, meaning that everyone employed by the business is at risk of losing their jobs.

Day said it is not his intention to run the place out of business. He wants to work with Holliday’s partners in the operation to ensure that the coffeehouse stays open. He also said that he was unaware if Holliday’s arrest would impact the company’s liquor license, but also said that the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control department is aware of Holliday’s arrest.

As of Wednesday afternoon, neither The Edge managers nor Holliday had responded to The Sun’s requests for comment.

For legal reasons, Day was also limited on what he was able to share, but said that he wants to pursue all options that keep Edge employees paid and keep the local business in town.

Jonesboro City Councilwoman Ann Williams previously owned the coffee shop.

Holliday began pursuing the liquor license and hired Brian Nobles in August of 2019.

***

LITTLE ROCK — The rules of social distancing amid the coronavirus health crisis sparked a wild brawl at an Arkansas restaurant last week. The news made it all the way to FOX News and the New York Post.

The fight broke out at Saltgrass Steak House in Little Rock on Saturday night over the matter.

According to a police report from the Little Rock Police Department, a woman wearing a face mask told two other patrons – who were not wearing masks – that they were too close for comfort.

“You’re supposed to be 6 feet away from me!” the woman exclaimed, in nowviral video footage that has since received over 96,000 views on Twitter.

An argument ensued, and a man wearing a USA shirt walked over to the bar, where the mask-wearing woman and her boyfriend were seated. The situation escalated when the man in the USA shirt got even closer to the woman and her boyfriend, per the police report.

“The guy came up and was touching on his back and giving him a little shove and he just wasn’t taking it and that’s when it all started,” witness Seth Crews told the outlet.

As seen in the video footage, the woman’s boyfriend appeared to throw a bottle, and a brawl ensued.

“All the restaurant employees were trying to help, they were just in shock like the rest of us,” Crews said.

He added that his brother got involved, and tried to break the fight up.

According to the outlet, no one involved in the fight has yet filed any charges, the county prosecutor said.

Bars in Arkansas were allowed to reopen for business on May 26, albeit with seating restricted to 33 percent of the total capacity for indoor and outdoor dining spaces. COVID-19 numbers have increased dramatically in the state over the past month, which officials say is due to increased testing and not the loosening of restrictions.

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