Former Arkansas first lady Janet Huckabee was a special guest at Tuesday's kickoff event for Bill Fechtelkotter's campaign for the State Representative District 45 seat.
Fechtelkotter, a self-described "new generation Republican" will face Democrat Linda Tyler in the November election.
State Sen. Gilbert Baker was the master of ceremonies. He said of Huckabee, "For her to be with us tonight really says a lot about Bill Fechtelkotter and the campaign."
Huckabee said, "Obviously I can't vote for Bill because I don't live in his district but you can. It's so very important that the people we elect are going to have an impact on our lives (through their decisions in the Legislature). That's why it's important to get good people elected."
Baker said Fechtelkotter worked on his election campaign in 2000.
"I gave Bill three tasks. One week later he had them done. He moved to Conway to help me. He was there day in and day out."
He added, "He's willing to roll his sleeves up. Bill's about getting in there and making a difference. He has the vision to change issues where Little Rock is just stuck."
Fechtelkotter said Baker was his inspiration to run.
"Two things he taught me were to embrace humility and surround yourself with wise counsel," Fechtelkotter said.
He said his goal is "to reach across party lines. Those have become battle lines, ancient lines of demarcation that have to be removed. It is our moment; we want to reach across and bring people together when this city, state and nation need us most. We believe we're standing for integrity, liberty and a new direction. We invite people to join us in redefining government as a place where people and ideas are more important than partisan politics."
Fechtelkotter said he is passionate about returning the arts to public schools.
"If you don't, you're not educating the whole child," he said, maintaining that instead of encouraging creativity, schools are "shoving test scores down their throats, and music and art are being cut."
"We've got to create a class of employee that can compete on a global level," he said.
At the event Tuesday, artist Caleb Baker, who maintains The Stage, an online community of artists at Fechtelkotter's campaign Web site (www.gofechgo) unveiled four paintings based on the life of Christ.
Huckabee said, "I think what America, what Arkansas needs, is someone who's creative. You have to be creative now to run (for office)."
Fechtelkotter said he is pro-life as well as pro-adoption. He said adoption should be made a simple process in Arkansas because "mothers in distress need to know that option is there."
He said the U.S. spends more on health care than any nation in the world but is ranked 37th. He said the nation needs a "proactive, preventative wellness system."
He also called for lifting tax burdens.
"We've got to lift the government off people's backs and allow them to pursue their dreams," he said.
Fechtelkotter said he calls himself a "new generation Republican" because "I don't think the label can hold all of a man's heart."
He concluded, "When the foundations are shaking, it is now our time to come together and speak with a voice of truth. We can make a ripple. We can start a movement."
Fechtelkotter's opponent, Linda Tyler, on her Web site (www.lindatyler08.com), says, "I consider myself to be fiscally conservative and socially responsible. I know that only by helping each other, we can all live more productive and successful lives. My life experiences have led me to be a strong advocate for public education and an accessible health care system for all citizens. I firmly believe that it is possible to have these things and at the same time support our business community by assuring Arkansas provides businesses with an attractive and positive economic atmosphere."
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
