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Rank
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1
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Joe T. Ford
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ALLTEL CEO,
Little Rock Chamber Chairman, Clinton Library supporter
|
Led the
successful resistance to Frank Broyles' campaign to move football games
from Little Rock to Fayetteville for what became one of the years most
controversial issues. Of football and politics...
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2
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Warren Stephens
|
Investment
banker, Republican fundraiser
|
Influence has
sustained longer than anyone else.
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3
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Lee Scott
|
Wal-Mart CEO
& Republican fundraiser
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4
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Skip Rutherford
|
Clinton
Library fundraiser
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One of Clinton's
most loyal allies, using his influence to help insure a solid Clinton
Library.
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5
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Ray Lincoln
|
Radio
personality, KARN
|
His morning show
received a call from President Clinton the day after the election last
month. The two looked forward to eating a meal at Doe's together. With
rumors of Lincoln's retirement, he deserves an especially high rank.
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6
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Brenda Turner
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Chief of Staff
to the Governor
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She's a political
bull-dog.
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7
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John Brummet
|
Political
Columnist
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Everyone knows to
watch out when he starts 'sniffin' around.
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8
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Sheffield Nelson
|
Game and Fish
Commissioner & Republican Fundraiser
|
Replaced Witt
Stephens for . An ironic coincidence considering the Stephens/ Nelson feud.
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9
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Maurice Mitchell
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Lawyer and
Trustee of President's legal fund
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Member of most
prestigious firm, good friend of the President.
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10
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John Tyson
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Tyson CEO and
Republican fundraiser
|
What would we do
without Tyson?
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11
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Ron Fuller & J.J. Vigneault
|
Republican
Media Consultants
|
Consultants to
the Governor; raised a ton of money early-on in the Bush campaign.
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12
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Max Brantley
|
Arkansas Times
columnist
|
He's been around
forever and what he says goes.
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13
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Rex Nelson
|
Governor's
Communications Director
|
Nelson's
background in the news business shaped an excellent message for the
Governor through several battles this year.
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14
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Betsy Wright
|
Democratic
Political Operative
|
Although this
former Clinton insider has been more elusive to the political scene, her
advice and opinion are still sought often.
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15
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Carolyn Pollan
|
Governor's
Legislative Director
|
Pollan has used
her centrist views to help build coalitions within the legislature.
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16
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Eddie Drilling
|
Southwestern
Bell lobbyist
|
Knows his
business and has done extremely well for a relatively short lobbying
career.
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17
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Dennis Byrd
|
Donrey News
Bureau Editor
|
Byrd is the
person people go to if they want a story explored.
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18
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Mac McLarty
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Businessman
& Democratic fundraiser
|
As all of the
Clinton insiders start to lose their influence, McLarty's name still
remains.
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19
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The Murphy Family
|
Oil Tycoons
& Republican Fundraisers
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20
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Ark Monroe
|
Lawyer & Democratic
Fundraiser
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Although Mark
Pryor was the official Gore Arkansas campaign chair, Monroe did a lot of
the work.
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21
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Jerry Russell
|
Political
Consultant
|
Influential among
Republicans and Democrats.
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22
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Charles Morgan
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ACXIOM CEO and
Chairman of Direct Marketing Association
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Helped oversee
Acxiom's new PAC and leads the industry's response to legislative concerns
concerning privacy matters.
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23
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Kyle Parker
|
Loislaw.com
CEO & Republican fundraiser
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24
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Lloyd Lindsey
|
Republican
fundraiser
|
Lindsey used to
be more associated with the more conservative faction of the Republican
Party, but has recently become one of the Governor's biggest supporters.
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25
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Archie Schaffer
|
former Tyson
exec
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After a
controversial indictment, Schaffer has gotten support from the entire
state, including Arkansas' entire Washington delegation and the Governor.
Free Archie!
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26
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Frank White
|
Bank
Commissioner
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The former
Governor is still influential with fundraising; helping banks adapt to now
debunked usury laws.
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27
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Don Tilton
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Lobbyist
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This former aide
to Sen. Dale Bumpers has a huge slate of customers.
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28
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John Paul Hammerschmidt
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Republican
Party Chairman
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After being asked
by Huckabee to come back to political life, this former Congressman beat
Jim Hendren in a close chairmanship battle.
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29
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Ted Thomas
|
Governor's
Budget Director
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This former state
representative has been instrumental in ensuring the possibility of
teacher's raises.
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30
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Cecil Alexander
|
Entergy
consultant
|
This former-House
speaker is passing the top Entergy lobbying job to Tom Kennedy.
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31
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Morril Harriman
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Poultry
Federation E.D.
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After a
successful 15-year state senate career, Harriman assumes one of the most
important federations in the state. Expectations are high for his first
lobbying session in January.
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32
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Lloyd Stone
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Republican
National Committeeman
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33
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Tom Kennedy
|
Entergy Vice
President of Public Affairs
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Resigned his
state senate seat this year to take this new position.
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34
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Vaughn McQuary
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Democratic
Party Chairman
|
Aggressive
chairman is finishing his second-term and felt this was a good year to
leave his position after Mike Ross won his seat.
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35
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Don Allen
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Poultry
Federation Sr. Vice President
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One of the
longest running lobbying careers in the state.
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36
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Richard Bearden
|
Arkansas Bush
campaign Manager
|
Bearden organized
a team that helped shock the nation after Arkansas went for Bush.
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37
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Martha Miller Harriman
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Lawyer &
lobbyist
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Comes from a
historic political family touting 18 years as a lobbyist.
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38
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Brenda Thiel
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Chairman
League of Women Voters
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An outspoken
critic of Amendment 2, but did not recommend filing suit. Brought support
to the proceedings of the recent Special Session.
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39
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Jennings Osborne
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Christmas
light tycoon, barbecue host, Huckabee supporter & Republican
fundraiser
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If you ask, he
delivers. Although some legislators asked him not to put his Christmas
trees up at the capitol this year.
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40
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Bill Paschall
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Democratic
consultant and lobbyist
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41
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Mike Pickens
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Insurance
Commissioner
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Outspoken
opponent of the Gore campaign and very laissez-faire on health care.
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42
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Ron Russell
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State Chamber
of Commerce President
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43
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Prissy Hickerson
|
Highway
Commissioner
|
Led the
Commission battle to keep I-49 funds in South Arkansas.
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44
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Linda Pondexter
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Arkansas
Education Federation E.D.
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Gave support to
Huckabee's teacher-raise plan, although she thought it could be more.
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45
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Carl Rosenbaum
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New Highway
Commissioner
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Good political
friend of the Governor's
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46
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Alan B. Hughes
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AFL-CIO President
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Hughes may have been higher on the list, if the Governor had not
bypassed the reappointment of Pat West Humphrey, the AFL-CIO's candidate
for the Worker's Compensation Commission.
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47
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Joe Thompson
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Pediatrician/Citizens for a Healthier Arkansas
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Lead author of Initiated Act One.
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48
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Charles Mazander
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Businessman
& Republican fundraiser
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Strong supporter
of the Arkansas Bush campaign.
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49
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Herby Branscum
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Former Highway
Commissioner & Democratic Fundraiser
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50
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Betty Guhman
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Chief of Staff to Asa Hutchinson
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51
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Bud Cummins
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State
Director, National Independent Federation of Independent Business
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Preparing the
Federation for the upcoming session, with tort reform in site.
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52
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Randy Thurman
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Executive Director of the Arkansas Environmental Federation
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53
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Steve Barnes
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TV Personality
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Host of Arkansas Week; name most associated with Election coverage.
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54
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Roby Brock
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TV personality
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Managed the successful Amendment 2 campaign
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55
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Peggy Jeffries
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Republican
National Committeewoman
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Former state
senator beat Phyllis Kincannon in a surprise campaign.
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56
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Chris Carnahan
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Republican Party Executive Director
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Although many contend Carnahan is on his way out, he has worked
hard for his candidates this year.
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57
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Mary Jane Rebick
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Economic Development of Arkansas Fund Commissioner
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Even after an unsuccessful run for the state senate against Jim
Argue, Rebick is influential among the business community and the
Republican Party.
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58
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Jim Keet
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Businessman & Democratic fundraiser
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Former state senator is well-like by everyone.
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59
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Stacy Williams
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Democratic
Political consultant
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Consultant to
Mike Ross
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60
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Cydney Pearce
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Sen. Lincoln's Office Manager
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Pearce runs a tight shop and is an expert on environmental
issues.
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61
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Jason Brady
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Governor's Director of Appointments to Boards and Commisions
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Ran a successful Victory 2000 campaign, giving Republicans a gain
of eight seats.
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62
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Darrin Williams
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Counsel to the Attorney General
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Mark Pryor's Right-Hand-Man
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63
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David J. Sanders
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Political columnist
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Young, but very savvy. Sanders is on his way to the top.
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64
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John Yates
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Lawyer
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Left Snyder's office to work at the Catlett Firm.
|
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65
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Kay Arnold
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Entergy exec & Democratic Fundraiser
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Helped raise money for Gore.
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66
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Rob Johnson
|
Chief of Staff
to Jay Dickey
|
Johnson has been
a loyal, young staffer to an often hard-to-please Dickey.
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67
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Ron Oliver
|
Pulaski County
Election Commissioner
|
Positioning
himself to take over the state party chairmanship.
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68
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Carl Bayne
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Manages welfare reform at ESD
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Managed the Initiated Act campaign, which received over 60%
approval.
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69
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Phil Schoetlin
|
RepublicanThird District Chairman & Washington County
Election Commissioner
|
Hardworking campaigner with an amazing database.
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70
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Betsy Thompson
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Republican Presidential Elector and Fundraiser
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71
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Bill Hardin
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Governor's State Drug Director
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Helping get federal money to decrease the state's high number of
meth labs.
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72
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Mildred Homan
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Presidential elector and former National Committeewoman
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Homan is one of the most respected people in the Republican Party.
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73
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Hezekiah Stewart
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Evangelist/ Watershed Project Director
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Leads one of the most effective charity organizations.
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74
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Jim Harris
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Governor's Communications staffer
|
Served as Jay Dickey's campaign spokesperson for a large portion of
the general election campaign.
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75
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Larry Page
|
Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council E.D.
|
Helped defeat Amendment 5, the casino proposal.
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76
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Rita Sklar
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Arkansas ACLU Director
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77
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Hoyt Purvis
|
UofA journalism professor and poltiical observer
|
Now that Diane Blair is gone, Purvis is the most influential
academic.
|
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78
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Gary Heathcott
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Advertising exec & Republican fundraiser
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79
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Lynn Zeno
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lobbyist; Arkansas Medical Society
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80
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Bill Vickery
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Political consultant
|
Working for the Arkansas Trucking Association to hopefully amend
the constitution and replace the Arkansas Highway Commission.
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81
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Reta Hamilton
|
Republican Party advocate
|
Everyone likes Reta! She was recently appointed to the AETN
Commission.
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82
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Patrice Hargrave
|
Interim Democratic Party E.D.
|
This young talent was given a great opportunity and she has proven
herself in the position.
|
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83
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Phyllis Kincannon
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Republican fundraiser
|
Kincannon organized a hard-working group of volunteers to assist
the Bush campaign.
|
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84
|
Ron Maxwell
|
Office of Secretary of State Sharon Priest
|
Gearing up for a possible high-level campaign for Priest.
|
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85
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Susan Carter
|
Office Director for Senator Tim Hutchinson
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|
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86
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Aaron Blight
|
Democratic Political Operative
|
Runs an effective political machine in Northwest Arkansas.
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87
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Rebekah Lee
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Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff
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88
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Steve Gray
|
Fayetteville Office Manager for Asa Hutchinson
|
This former high-ranking military officer arranged an excellent
Veterans' Day Memorial.
|
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89
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Donna Hutchinson
|
Republican Advocate
|
The Senator's ex can get the entire Benton County Committee to
boycott Tim events.
|
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90
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Charles Willis
|
Director of Association of Democratic County Officers
|
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91
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Anne Britton
|
Keyes' campaign chairperson & NRA Board Member
|
With Britton's help, the Keyes' campaign did better than anyone
thought, throwing the Bush team for a curve in delegate selections.
|
|
92
|
Johnna J. Galloway
|
Democratic Party First Vice-Chair
|
|
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93
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Terry Benham
|
Republican Operative & lobbyist
|
|
|
94
|
Michael Langley
|
Democratic Party Fundraiser
|
|
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95
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Beth Carlson
|
Lawyer and Democratic Fundraiser
|
|
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96
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Robin Carroll
|
Democratic Party Legal Council
|
|
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97
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Robin Lundstrum
|
Republican Advocate
|
|
|
98
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Myra Jones
|
Democratic Party Fundraiser
|
|
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99
|
Steve Harrelson
|
Snyder Campaign Manager
|
|
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100
|
Andrea Allen
|
Agriculture Assistant to Senator Hutchinson
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