Arkansas Ditrict 4 Race For House 2001 Essay, Research Paper

The 4th Congressional District is historically a Democratic district. It occupies almost the entire southern geographical half of Arkansas, from the Mississippi River to the Ouachita Mountains, the Delta to Texarkana. The formal demographics consist as fallows; Area: 18,044 sq. mi.

Population: 585,202; Voting Age 429,638

Cities: Pine Bluff

Urbanization: Rural 52%, Suburban 33%, Urban 14%

Minorities: Black 27%, Hisp 1%

Immigration: Born 99%, Naturalized 0%, Alien 0%

Housing: Own 73%, Rent 27%, Homeless *.1%

Education: HS grad 65%, Coll grad 10%, Post grad 3%

Labor Force: Bl-Collar 50%, Wh-Collar 45%, Farm/Fish 5%

Military: Active Duty 727; Veterans 14%

Social: Married 57%, Marr/Chdn 27%, Sngl/Chdn 10%

Elderly: 65 and over 16%; Soc Sec 34%

Income: Per Capita $9,723; Poverty 22%; Pub Asst 10%

Arkansas’ fourth districts’ incumbent was Republican Jay Dickey. Dickey held office for four terms since 1992 when he replaced Beryl Anthony, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and member of Ways and Means by winning 52%-48%.

Jay Dickey was born on December 14, 1939, in Pine Bluff Arkansas into the family of Jay and Margaret Dickey. After graduation from Pine Bluff High School in 1957, he attended Hendrix College for one year on a basketball scholarship. He then transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and entered law school. He graduated with a BA Degree from the school of Arts and Sciences in 1961 (combined degree) and from the School of Law in 1963. During law school, he became the Head Varsity Tennis Coach for two years and was elected to the law school’s Student Senate.

In the House, Dickey has had a mostly conservative voting record and, with seats on Agriculture and Small Business, has worked on district projects. He sponsored a crime bill to allow flogging of prisoners and to remove color televisions and other ”conveniences” from prisons. In 1994, he faced a Democratic, state Senator Jay Bradford, who was able to raise enough funds to match Dickey as a formidable opponent. With majorities from the bigger towns, Dickey won again 52%-48%. His opponent in 1996 was Vincent Tolliver, a 28-year-old paralegal and poet recently returned from California. He was re-elected 64%-36%, carrying every county.

In the 2000 election the incumbent emphasized issues that would support black farmers, gun owners, strongly supporting the second amendment, and the protection of landowners. In his attempt he hoped that this would help build votes because of such a high demographic in these areas of interest. Besides his political platform Dickey already held an advantage over his opponent Mike Ross, a Democrat, through his time and experience in office and through name recognition. Even though Dickey stands not to accept money from political action comities he still managed to raise over a Million and a half dollars, 66,773 dollars more than Mike Ross.

Jay Dickey (R) *

Raised: $1,525,886

Spent: $1,372,089

Cash on hand: $225,241

Last Report: 10/18/00

PACs: $6,000 ( .4% )

Individuals: $1,375,804 ( 90.2% )

Candidate: $0 –

Other: $144,082 ( 9.4% )

Opensecrets.org

In 1991, at age 29, Mike Ross became the youngest member of the Arkansas Senate, going on to be re-elected in 1992 and 1996. While serving in Arkansas’ Senate, Ross chaired the Children and Youth Committee and presided over hearings into allegations of abuse and neglect within the Division of Youth Services. His leadership eventually led to the passage of groundbreaking legislation that reformed the Division of Youth Services and ensured safety for the children it served.

WINNER: Michael Avery Ross (D)

Raised: $1,459,113

Spent: $1,436,305

Cash on hand: $22,808

Last Report: 10/18/00

PACs: $606,983 ( 41.6% )

Individuals: $795,365 ( 54.5% )

Candidate: $1,800 ( .1% )

Other: $54,965 ( 3.8% )

Open secrets.org

This congressional race was said to be one of the closest races this election season. Neither Ross’s campaign declared a staggering victory nor did Dickey’s campaign concede total defeat with Ross taking 51 percent of the vote to Dickey’s 49 percent. It is a coup that is especially rewarding for Democrats, as they have failed in past efforts to remove the quirky and folksy Dickey from the overwhelmingly Democratic district. The party had long considered Dickey’s 1992 take of the district a fluke, attributing his win to a since-healed split in Democratic Party ranks. Pinpointing Dickey as one of the most vulnerable incumbents this election season, the party made sure that Ross was able to raise enough money to compete with the congressman. Ross won the nomination in a June runoff election after coming out ahead in a four-way primary battle. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s unconventional endorsement of Ross before the runoff election served as evidence of the party’s strong faith in Ross as a candidate. Since then, the polls had consistently predicted that he was a formidable challenger for the incumbent. Befitting the socially conservative district, Dickey and Ross touted similar agendas that included pro-gun and pro-religion stances. The candidates regularly pointed out their differences in routinely exchanged barbs and accusations. Among them was a charge by Dickey that Ross, who owns a pharmacy with his wife, had amassed a personal fortune by charging high prices for prescription drugs. In turn, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Committee, accusing Dickey of accepting illegal contributions. The Ross campaign also criticized Dickey for voting in favor of a congressional pay raise, while voting against a minimum wage hike. Dickey put up a strong fight, but even the prominent Democratic support he had was not enough to keep him ahead. With a black population in the district of 27 percent, the African American vote was essential. Although Dickey had won the support of the Arkansas chapter of the Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association, and the endorsement of his 1998 Democratic opponent Judy Smith, an African American, he still failed to hold on to the seat. Even a recent announcement of $234 million in federal money for state highway projects was not enough to keep him in office. Mike Ross on the other hand was able to capture organized labor and black voters, which make up 27 percent of the vote, and with Dickey’s negative job-approval ratings at 47%, Ross was able to finely bump Jay *censored*ey to take his seat in congress.

Arkansas District 4 presidential voting pole.

PRESIDENT

CANDIDATE VOTE TOTAL PERCENT

BUSH (REP) 469918 51% WIN

GORE (DEM) 417949 45%

NADER (GRN) 13205 2%

BUCHANAN (RFM) 10936 1%

BROWNE (LIB) 7690 1%

PHILLIPS (CST) 1399 0%

HAGELIN (NTL) 1051 0%

http://www.ross4congress.com/Initiatives/index.htm

http://issues2000.org/House/Jay_Dickey.htm

http://www.lib.ecu.edu/Reference/subject_guides/polisci.htm

http://www.opensecrets.org/

http://www.house.gov/

http://www.rollcall.com/