A former Pine Bluff alderman and mayor who also served two terms each in the state House and Senate as a Democrat pledged his support Tuesday for Republican Asa Hutchinson for governor.
Former Sen. Jerry Taylor, always among the most conservative lawmakers during his tenure in the Legislature, said he had renounced his former party affiliation “because you can’t be a conservative and still be a Democrat anymore.”
“When Mike Ross voted for Obamacare he lost my support,” Taylor said of the presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee. “He could have stopped it and he didn’t.”
As 4th District congressman, Ross cast a key committee vote that helped get President Obama’s health care reform measure to the House floor, where Ross then voted against it.
Taylor called Hutchinson, a former federal prosecutor, congressman and federal Homeland Security undersecretary who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006, an “honorable man.” He noted Hutchinson’s work with the National Rifle Association’s school safety initiative in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Taylor said he would work to generate support for Hutchinson in his hometown. At 75, he said his name likely will not grace another ballot under any party banner.
Hutchinson is on of three Republicans who have announced intentions to run for governor in 2014. Little Rock businessman Curtis Coleman and state Rep. Debra Hobbs of Rogers also have said they plan to seek the GOP gubernatorial nomination next year.
Ross is the only announced candidate for the Democratic nomination after former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter recently dropped out of the race.
Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe is prevented by term limits from seeking re-election to a third term.