Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bryant Begins Runoff With Lambert; Stumps In Prescott

Arkansas Attorney General Winston Bryant was in Prescott Friday, still on the campaign trail.

Bryant, who finished second in a four-candidate race for U.S. Senate behind Blanche Lambert Lincoln, has been campaigning non-stop since the primary election Tuesday, May 19.

"We're taking the campaign directly to the people," he said, "driving from city to city, town to town and county to county with our message."

The Bryant tour began at the Little Rock fairgrounds, headed to his hometown of Malvern, ventured to Hot Springs and Benton before returning to the state capital Thursday. Friday's trek began with a stop in Murfreesboro, then it was on to De Queen, Ashdown, Texarkana, a brief stop in Hope, Prescott and a final stop in Arkadelphia.

"'I'm working the Fourth Congressional District hard," Bryant said. "I feel I'll do well in the 4th District and get a lot of votes in the 3rd District. The battleground will be in the 2nd District. But this is a new game, the primary is over and the runoff is new and dynamic."

Bryant's message emphasizes Social Security and Medicare benefits for the elderly. "I'm a strong advocate for Social Security for senior citizens. I'll work to insure we'll have a sound, viable Social Security and Medicare program."

Both of Bryant's parents needed these two government programs in their later years before passing away. He said with Social Security and Medicare they were able to live their last years with dignity.

He also favors removing the Social Security trust fund from the budget, saying such funds should be used for no reason other than their primary purpose. "It can't be done all at once, and would have to be done by increments."

Bryant also would like to work on frying some of the pork out of the budget. The current highway bill, for example, he said, is filled with pork. It could be cut by $25 to $50 billion to get rid of the porkbarrel projects.

This particular bill, he said, violates the 1997 budget agreement. Should it pass, other areas will have to have their budgets cut.

Education is another plank in Bryant's platform. As lieutenant governor and attorney general he has battled for the state's young people.

He founded a suicide prevention program, and introduced legislation on violence, gangs and abuse.

The suicide program has been in existence for 13 years, he said, and now a signal program has been developed along the same lines for violence.

When young people are thinking about committing a violent act, either against themselves or others, Bryant continued, they give off warning signals.

The consciousness level of teachers, other students and parents needs to be raised to recognize these warning signals so the potential perpetrator can be stopped before an act of violence can be committed.

The most common signal, according to Bryant, is making threats either against themselves or someone else.

By recognizing this for what it could be, he said, those around the young person can work to get them help.

Warning signs must be taken seriously.

"I've worked hard to protect families against violence," he said. "I authored one of the toughest anti-stalking laws in the nation, three strikes and you're out legislation and two strikes and you're out for serious crimes.

"As Senator, I will fight crime with the perspective as a prosecutor. I was a federal and state prosecuting attorney. I will insure federal laws are tough and effective to do the job in violent crimes."

In closing on the topic of violent crime, Bryant said those who commit them should not be given parole, but should serve the entire sentence as passed by courts.

Bryant and Lincoln will be on the ballot for the June 9 runoff. The winner will face a Republican opponent in the November General Election.