Former Benton County sheriff runs for Senate [Andy Lee - Arkansas]

Arkanas News Bureau ^ | Feb 22, 2004 | Doug Thompson

[JohnnyZ]

ROGERS - Former Benton County Sheriff Andy Lee opened his campaign for U.S. Senate on Saturday, pledging to put God into a smaller government, protect the rights of gun owners and to support President Bush's policies in Iraq.

Lee, who will be 56 in April, is the third Republican to declare a bid for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Little Rock. Businessman Tom Formicola of Little Rock and State Sen. Jim Holt, R-Springdale, have already announced. The GOP primary is scheduled for May 18.

"Sometime before I die, I'd like to see God back in our government, where he belongs," Lee said to about 50 supporters at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Rogers at a 6:30 p.m. announcement. "Our Founding Fathers never intended for God to be driven out of government."

The First Amendment to the Constitution protects the free practice of religion and free speech, but "it's OK to flip off a police officer or a teacher, but its not OK to have a prayer in public schools," Lee said. "Why is free speech protected while the free exercise of religion is not?"

Lee also said he wanted to defend the Second Amendment right to bear arms, which he said should "be part of the First Amendment."

"Guns keep us free," Lee said, saying any foreign power who invaded the United States would find out what a "good old Arkansas Second Amendment butt-kicking was all about" when they got to Arkansas.

Pay to military personnel should be tax-free, Lee said. Also, troops should be deployed to stop illegal immigration. "I have no problem with people coming here," Lee said. "I have a problem with people coming into this country illegally."

The federal Department of Education should be disbanded, Lee said, calling the agency "a gross waste of money." He also said the highway section of the U.S. Department of Transportation should be eliminated. "It's served its purpose," he said. "The Interstate Highway system is built." Other agencies Lee would eliminate include federal welfare agencies, whose functions should be left to states, and the Immigration and Nationalization Service. "I had problems with them as sheriff," Lee said. "I don't know what they do."

The tax code should be simplified and the Internal Revenue Service greatly reduced, Lee said. "I don't know of a rocket scientist" who can do his own taxes, Lee said.

On the Iraqi war, Lee said: "If the President of the United States is in trouble because of this war, then so is my campaign."

"Weapons of mass destruction became a secondary issue for me when I saw the mass graves of men, women and children in Iraq," Lee said.

Lincoln was also in Northwest Arkansas Saturday, making three campaign appearances. She criticized the President's conduct of the war. The president misleading Congress on whether there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was bad enough, she said in speeches Saturday. What's worse is that the President assured Congress that there were detailed plans in place to manage Iraq after the war, and that level of preparation has not developed, she said.

Lee is a 10-year veteran of the Washington Police Department who returned to Arkansas after being injured in a car crash while on duty there. He served seven terms as Benton County Sheriff, retiring in 2002. He and his wife, Holly, have four children and six grandchildren.

[JohnnyZ]

"Guns keep us free," Lee said, saying any foreign power who invaded the United States would find out what a "good old Arkansas Second Amendment butt-kicking was all about" when they got to Arkansas.

I think Sheriff Lee has potential to be a good candidate. I think he could play well in Arkansas against perky inoffensive Blanche Lincoln.

[bigfootbob]

You need to change your handle to "The Amazing Johnny Z" sir. Your national political knowledge is very impressive. Are you related to Michael Barone?

[rebel25]

you have that right, i'm from jonesboro and he has my vote already.

[JohnnyZ]

I was first called JohnnyZ by an elementary school teacher when the TV Show "The Famous Teddy Z" was airing.

But really I just spend far too much time reading newspaper articles.

[Chris Talk]

Sounds like my kinda guy. Will Wal Mart contribute to his campaign? Is he from Rogers?

[JohnnyZ]

I'm afraid I don't know where Rogers or Benton County are.

A new article summing up the political situation pretty accurately: http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2004/02/21/DougThompson/128403.html

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ahhh... yes. Starring Jon Cryer and the guy who played Jo's father on The Facts of Life. That show was on for like two weeks I thought.

[muleboy]

Can you imagine how much fun it will be to have a LEE vs. LINCOLN race?

Complete with Party and Ideology reversals?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Rogers is up near "Razorback" University in Fayettenam. They don't really study much else there.

[JohnnyZ]

13 episodes, according to imdb.com. Not too shabby :)

[JohnnyZ]

Can you imagine how much fun it will be to have a LEE vs. LINCOLN race?

LOL - I had not thought of that. We were not big on Lee where I'm from.

[muleboy]

CORRECTION: NOT ideology reversals.

LINCOLN-DEMOCRAT - PRO-BIG GOVERNMENT

LEE-REPUBLICAN - ANTI-BIG GOVERNMENT

[gundog]

I'm afraid I don't know where Rogers or Benton County are.

NW corner of the state...and the birthplace of gundog!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Did you remind your teacher of Teddy Z?

[JohnnyZ]

Did you remind your teacher of Teddy Z?

That may very well be. I've forgotten the teacher's name now . . . have to ask the 'rents. He wasn't even MY teacher, just taught another grade, but apparently I was (am) fly enough to deserve a cool nickname.

[BipolarBob]

Then you know how Andy Lee "abuses" his criminals. No TV -No hot meals-can't remember if they could have cigarettes or not. The inmates felt like their "rights" had been violated.

[Ahban]

State Senator Jim Holt of Springdale has my support for this slot. He has a good reputation for cleaning up corruption and refusing to raise taxes. This makes him have all of the right enemies. His positions sound a lot like Andy Lee's, including the fact that he is an extremely devout Christian. I wonder why Andy Lee choose to run since Jim Holt announced a month or so ago?

You have two guys with basically the same philosophies, one has a proven legislative track record and the other is a sheriff. Why does the sheriff even get in the race?

[gundog]

No...I've been away for decades. But it sounds like he's turning the jail into some kind of penal institution. Typical backwards redneck. :)

[BipolarBob]

Could it be he is unemployed? He left the office of sheriff to go to the FBI or USMarshall program, I forget which, but something didn't gel and he's looking to come home.

[JohnnyZ]

His positions sound a lot like Andy Lee's, including the fact that he is an extremely devout Christian. I wonder why Andy Lee choose to run since Jim Holt announced a month or so ago?

You have two guys with basically the same philosophies, one has a proven legislative track record and the other is a sheriff. Why does the sheriff even get in the race?

Both Holt and Lee have been looking at the race for a long time, so I don't know that anyone really got in first. I gather that they're acquainted and relations are cordial between them. You're right that their positions are similar.

As for sheriff vs. state senator, I think each is good. Why should Dr. Bill Frist have even considered running for the senate, since he'd never been a legislator? I think it's healthy to have people from all walks of life making our laws. A sheriff certainly has experience dealing with societal problems on the ground, in real life, enforcing the laws others wrote. That can be immensely preferable to a detached legislator writing the rules for others to live by -- not that I would suggest Holt would fit THAT description.