Sebastian County Offers Arkansas GOP Hope

Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: Two young republicans running for Sebastian County House District 64 seat offer hope to the future of the Arkansas Republican Party. One is 30 year old, Stephanie Malone, an advertising executive. She grew up in the politically active family that includes her uncle U. S. Rep. John Boozman and her aunt Vickey Boozman who is also running for a state House seat.

The other is Brandon Woodrome, age 20; younger but very conservative. State representatives have to be at least 21 when they take office. Woodrome turns 21 on Sept. 9. If he wins, he would take office in January. When shares his ideas, Woodrome says his experience is an example of why government needs changing. He grew up in a family that depended on food stamps, subsidized housing, “and every program touted by liberals as humanitarian.” Woodrome said such programs destroyed his family, taking away his parents’ incentive to the point that the state terminated their parental rights and he became a foster child during his teen years.

Woodrome was married at 17 and has a 6-month old son. He is a manager at a construction company and has worked for the same boss since age 15. Brandon believes Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps and Social Security should end. He believes that if those programs didn’t exist, churches and community organizations would take a greater role in caring for society’s needy, as they did before the programs started. He realizes these are federal programs, but has made them part of his broader state to distinguish his positions. Woodrow said “The other candidates in this race have their political theory because it is a political theory. They haven’t seen the evils I’ve seen. It’s not just right or left to me. It’s right or wrong.” He said "his brand of conservatism was earned the hard way."

On illegal immigration, Woodrome says local law enforcement officers should be able to ask everyone for proof of citizenship. Officers should be able to check the legal status of any person charged with a felony, driving while intoxicated, or booked into jail. He said the state should adopt a law similar to one approved in Oklahoma which prohibits the government from providing driver’s licenses or public benefits without proof of legal status. He said, "The state should punish people who hire or harbor illegal aliens." Malone said she wouldn’t go as far as Woodrome, though she agrees the state should penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens.

On taxes, Woodrome was disappointed that Gov. Beebe didn’t propose reductions in government spending while reducing the grocery tax in 2007. Woodrome said income taxes should be cut. Malone said she would support getting rid of the remaining 3% of state sales tax on groceries. Malone said her top priority would be economic development. Woodrome said his top priority would be protecting Arkansans by sponsoring immigration legislation. Both opposed the establishment of a state lottery and favored the proposed initiated act that would ban unmarried, cohabiting couples from adopting or serving as foster parents.

The Arkansas Republican Party has hope for its future if it puts forth more candidates like Woodrome and Malone. The RPA and local party should welcome the loser, should put them to work and should encourage them to run for other position. See More on These Candidates: Diverse histories lead two to ballot

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