Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Afberry25 (talk | contribs) at 08:07, 1 June 2006 (→The Dumond Case). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Michael Dale Huckabee (born August 24, 1955, in Hope, Arkansas) is the third Republican Governor of the state of Arkansas since Reconstruction, having served since 1996. In November 2005, Time magazine named him one of the five best governors in the U.S. He has been mentioned as a possible candidate in the United States presidential election, 2008.

Early history

Huckabee was elected Governor of Arkansas Boys State in 1972.

Huckabee graduated magna cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University, completing his Bachelors degree in 2 1/2 years, and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. ]

Huckabee was pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Arkadelphia, Texarkana, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was President of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention from 1989 to 1991, and also served as President of a religious-oriented television station.

In Huckabee's first political race he lost to incumbent U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers in 1992, receiving about 40 percent of the vote. In a 1993 special election Huckabee became the second Republican since Reconstruction to win the position of Arkansas lieutenant governor. Huckabee, as the only Republican in statewide office, clashed with Democratic leaders over many issues. Huckabee was re-elected to a full term as lieutenant governor in 1994.

Governor of Arkansas

Ascent to Governor

On 15 July 1996 he was sworn in as Governor of Arkansas to fill the vacancy created by Governor Jim Guy Tucker's resignation because of a felony conviction in the Whitewater scandal. This was a dramatic moment for Arkansas as Tucker at first resigned, and then rescinded his resignation as Huckabee was preparing to be sworn in. For a short while the event had the makings of a constitutional crisis not seen in Arkansas since the Brooks-Baxter War in the 19th century. Huckabee remained calm and won praise for his handling of the situation from both citizens and state leaders of both parties. Within a few hours Tucker reinstated his resignation, and Huckabee was sworn in.

Soon after taking office, Huckabee signed legislation creating a health insurance program designed to provide insurance to children of families who could not qualify for Medicaid but could not afford private insurance. He signed legislation to cut taxes, and simplified the automobile registration procedure.

First Full Term

In November of 1998, Huckabee was elected to a full four-year term, receiving the highest percentage of votes for a Republican seeking statewide office in Arkansas history.

At the beginning of his first full term, Huckabee led a public relations campaign for a bond program to pay for road reconstruction (Arkansas had, at that time, the lowest-rated highway system among the 50 states). Arkansas voters had traditionally shied away from public debt, having experienced a major bond scandal that affected the state's finances for the latter half of the 19th century. This time, however, the voters approved Huckabee's program.

Huckabee, an outdoorsman, also led a campaign to dedicate via constitutional amendment 1/8 of one cent of the state sales tax to improvement of the state's park system and natural resources, which had fallen into serious disrepair (and was an embarrassment for a state billing itself as "The Natural State"). As part of the campaign he traveled the entire length of the Arkansas River (the part within Arkansas) by boat.

In 2000, Huckabee also led a campaign to funnel 100 percent of the state's tobacco settlement revenues into the state's health care system, rather than into the general fund (as other states had done, where it could be used for non-health related purposes).

Second Full Term

In November of 2002 he was reelected to another four-year term (due to term limits, this will be his final term as governor). By the end of his term Huckabee will have the third-longest tenure of any Arkansas Governor (only Orval Faubus, who served 6 consecutive 2-year terms (1955-1967), and Bill Clinton, who served 11 years, 11 months (1979-1981; 1983-1992), had longer tenures).

He was made the chair of the Southern Governors' Association in 1999 and served in that capacity through 2000. He has chaired the Southern Growth Policies Board, the Southern Region Education Board, the Southern Technology Council, and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and currently serves as Chair of the Education Commission of the States, and as Chairman of the National Governors Association. He is also a member of the Republican Governors Association.

In 2003, the courts in Arkansas declared that the state's school funding procedure was unconstitutional and ordered the state to produce a fair system. Huckabee proposed a controversial plan that would consolidate many of the state's smaller school districts. School consolidation is very unpopular in rural Arkansas and may be the "third rail" of Arkansas politics. Huckabee's plan was not accepted by the legislature, and the court order has not yet been satisfied.

After Hurricane Katrina made landfall and numerous evacuees fled to Arkansas (the total number was estimated at around 70,000), Huckabee ordered state agencies to "take care of those human needs first and worry about the paperwork later". State parks offered deep discounts, waived pet restrictions, and bumped other reservations in favor of evacuees. Pharmacists were given emergency authority to dispense prescriptions and provide access to dialysis machines. Shelters opened up in nearly every portion of the state, and Huckabee requested that the entire state be declared a disaster area. Many of these shelters, either closed or set to close, were reopened or kept open to process a "second wave" of Katrina evacuees being moved from Texas in the wake of arriving Hurricane Rita. (See also Hurricane Katrina disaster relief).

In early 2006, Huckabee - along with fellow governors Rick Perry (R-TX); Jim Doyle (D-WI); and Dave Freudenthal (D-WY) - travelled to the Middle East and South Asia as part of Department of Defense-sponsored trip to provide the state leaders with an idea of the conditions under which American forces are serving. While visiting Baghdad and Tikrit, Huckabee and the governors received briefings from Gen. George Casey and Amb. Zalmay Khalilzad.

Health Advocacy and Personal Weight-Loss

While ascending the governorship of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee was significantly overweight. At some point during his governorship, physicians diagnosed the governor with Type II Diabetes and informed him that he would not live more than 10 years if he did not lose weight. This diagnosis shocked the governor into reflecting on his own mortality, and his ability to serve as the governor of Arkansas. Huckabee subesequently lost over 110 pounds through a disciplined diet and exercise. The governor now wakes-up at approximately 5 am for his morning work-out, and he and his wife routinely pack his own healthy meals for lunch and dinner in a portable cooler--even when attending political, ceremonial, or fund-raising events.

He has publicly recounted his previous burdens as an overweight man. The steps of the Arkansas capitol building from the enterance to the building up to the governor's office were so long and steep that Huckabee was out of breath and exhausted by the time he reached the top of the stairs; Huckabee secretly feared that he would be interviewed by media at the top of the steps, and that he would be unable to respond appropriately due to his exhaustion.

Huckabee has made health care reform a major component of his latter tenure as governor, promoting both his own life story as well as Arkansas' decision to dedicate 100 percent of tobacco settlement proceeds to health-related issues.

Criticisms

Political opponents have criticized his former career as a Baptist minister and lack of political experience by some. His public endorsement of "covenant marriage" and appointment of a number of Baptist friends to positions in his administration and state government have concerned proponents of separation of church and state. Further concerns are a result of the Governor's association with the 'Reclaim America for Christ Conferences'. The stated mission of the group is to 'come together to reclaim this land for Christ.'

For a time, Huckabee lived in a "triple-wide" mobile home on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion while it underwent renovation. The home was donated by the state manufactured home association; Huckabee agreed to live in it since the industry is a key part of Arkansas' economy both in terms of sales and employment. However, some citizens criticized the move, saying that it played into common stereotypes of rural Arkansas. Both Huckabee and Arkansas were the target of numerous jokes on national television programs.

During the 2002 elections his wife, Janet Huckabee, ran unsuccessfully for the position of secretary of state, and both received criticism for the dual election effort.

Huckabee has also been repeatedly criticized for his refusal to account for many of his financial holdings, as well as for his much-publicized purchase of a private jet that has been used for what many term personal travel. Allegations of cronyism and acceptance of favors have also plagued the governor, whom some refer to as the "Huckster."

Huckabee, like Bill Clinton, has also received criticism for his apparent interest in positioning himself for national office which has caused him to be out of the state more often than normal. However, Huckabee cannot run for Governor after 2006, whereas Clinton (during his run) was not term-limited.

Furthermore, Huckabee has been criticized for his support for the teaching of non-scientific dogmas in the science classes of Arkansas public schools. He was quoted in July 2004 on “Arkansans Ask,” his regular show on the Arkansas Educational Television Network: "I think that also should be given exposure to the theories not only of evolution but to the basis of those who believe in creationism …". Huckabee also stated "I do not necessarily buy into the traditional Darwinian theory, personally".

The Dumond Case

The most notable criticism involving Huckabee involved the use of his authority as governor to pardon or commute the sentences of convicts. The most well-known of the pardons issued involved Wayne Dumond, was convicted for the rape of Ashley Stevens, a Forrest City high school student. He was released from prison allegedly by pressure from Huckabee. After being released, he sexually assaulted and murdered a Missouri woman.

Some ultra-conservative commentators began to question Clinton's denial of clemency for Dumond in light of the fact that Dumond's victim was a distant relative of Clinton, "even though Clinton had recused himself in 1990 from any involvement in the case because of his distant relationship with Stevens." Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). A month later, in an unprecedented act, Huckabee met privately with the parole board to talk about the Dumond case among other things.

Huckabee's only official action in the Dumond case was when he denied a clemency request from Dumond. In a letter to Dumond, however, Huckabee made clear that "my desire is that you be released from prison." On that same day, Dumond was granted parole by the parole board. Huckabee denies influencing the parole board in any way, but acknowledges some responsibility for signing Dumond's parole.

As a result of the Dumond case, Huckabee came under fire for possibly issuing too many commutations. A thorough analysis of his commutations by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, however, found that the commutations he issued were similar to those of most other Arkansas governors throughout Arkansas' history.

Books

Huckabee has authored or co-authored four books:

• Character is the Issue (1997), a memoir (inspired by the crisis surrounding the incidents prior to his taking office as governor)
• Kids Who Kill (1998), a book about juvenile violence (inspired by the Jonesboro massacre, which took place during his tenure as governor)
• Living Beyond Your Lifetime (2000), a guide for leaving a personal legacy
• Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork (2005), a health and exercise inspirational guide (based on his personal health experience)

Other Accomplishments

Ouachita Baptist University recently renamed its School of Education the Michael D. Huckabee School of Education in his honor. In addition, his hometown of Hope named a recently-completed lake inside its Fair Park after Huckabee and his wife.

Huckabee was 1 of 10 recipients of a 2006 American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Impact Award acknowledging his work as a "Health Crusader".

Huckabee has also accomplished the task of running the 2005 Marine Corps Marathon and the 2005 and 2006 Little Rock Marathon. The 2005 Little Rock Marathon had a contest between Huckabee and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (D). Huckabee completed the marathon in 4:38:31, defeating Vilsack by 50 minutes.

Future Political Aspirations

Huckabee has been mentioned as a possible candidate for President in 2008 and, alternatively, as a possible challenger to incumbent Democratic senator Mark Pryor in that same year. Regarding a possible Presidential candidacy, similarities have already been drawn between Huckabee and former President Clinton:

• both are from Hope, Arkansas,
• both chaired the National Governors' Association (considered a stepping-stone for governors with Presidential aspirations),
• both are Southern Baptists, and
• both are musically inclined (Clinton plays the saxophone, Huckabee plays the bass guitar)

Notes

1. (July 12, 2001). The Morning News
2. Blomeley, Seth (July 25, 2004). " Huckabee’s 111 clemencies granted set no record among state’s leaders ". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

See also

• Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2006

External links

• Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas Governor Huckabee's official website.
• Huckabee for president?, Arkansas Times, September 22, 2005
• Mike Huckabee President 2008 blog Huckabee for President grassroots blog.
• AARP Impact Award article
• Life Extension Magazine: Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, A New State of Health for America

v t e Governors of Arkansas
Territorial (1819–1836)	J. Miller Izard Pope Fulton
State (from 1836)	J. Conway Yell Adams Drew Byrd Roane E. Conway Rector Fletcher Flanagin Murphy Clayton Hadley Baxter Garland W. Miller Churchill Berry Hughes Eagle Fishback Clarke Jones Davis Little Moore Pindall Martin Donaghey Robinson Oldham Futrell Hays Brough McRae Terral Martineau Parnell Futrell Bailey Adkins Laney McMath Cherry Faubus Rockefeller Bumpers Riley Pryor Purcell Clinton White Clinton Tucker Huckabee Beebe Hutchinson Huckabee Sanders
Italics indicates acting governor.

• 1955 births
• Living people
• Baptists
• Christian ministers
• Current governors of the United States
• Governors of Arkansas
• People from Arkansas
• Pro-life politicians