The List of Candidates for Arkansas Governor Keeps Growing

Its official, after months of speculation, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson is eyeing the states top job on the Republican ticket. He made his formal announcement on Saturday. "Without any hesitation I wanted to convey that I intend to run for Governor in 2006," said Hutchinson. Hutchinson just wrapped up his service as Undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security. He had been on the Presidents short list of candidates for Homeland Security Director, but despite being passed up for that, the native of Benton County said he always had the Governors race in the back of his mind. "It was actually a relief for me to know that the President chose someone else for that, because I wanted to come back to Arkansas," said Hutchinson. Hutchinson now joins Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller on the Republican ticket. He announced his candidacy in February. Hutchinson does not anticipate a division in the party during the campaign, but acknowledges Rockefeller comes with a heavy price tag. "I am right now at day one of this campaign. I haven`t raised any funds, I haven`t got an organization, but we`re going to be starting," added Hutchinson. Also in the race: former Democratic State Legislator Jim Lendall of Little Rock, who today is a member of the Green Party. "I`ve been kind of an outcast in the party anyway, they threw me off the ballot once, saying I wasn`t a real Democrat," said Lendall. During his time in office, Lendall made a name for himself by fighting to legalize medical marijuana. So now with 2 Republicans, a 3rd party candidate, and still no Democrat, there is speculation that Attorney General Mike Beebe will be the next to join the race for the Democrats, this still a year away from the election.