By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Primary elections are a year away, but aspiring candidates are already lining up to contend for a slew of legislative seats that will be up for grabs in 2010.

While the wait continues for Republican challengers to Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln to fully emerge, many would-be lawmakers announced early and are already out on the campaign trail this Memorial Day weekend — nearly 10 months before the political filing period opens next March 1.

Getting ahead of he crowd may be the name of the game with more than a dozen open state Senate seats and all 100 House seats up for election.

“I would tend to think it’s a little bit early,” said Art English, political science professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “I think some of it has to do with getting out in front and getting in the money pool — if you are a particularly strong candidate … you can maybe prevent some people from coming into the race by declaring early.

“Also, with term limits, people are looking to protect as many options as they possibly have. Just because they say they’re going to run, doesn’t mean they are going to run.”

Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, one of 13 veteran senators prevented by term limits from seeking re-election next year, said timing is a key factor.

Many House members who may have one or two terms left are trying to determine whether it is to their advantage to finish out their time in the House, or jump to the Senate, said Broadway, who served three terms in the House and will complete his second four-year term in the Senate next year.

“It’s really a tough choice,” he said. “A lot of them are doing their due diligence by keeping their names out there.”

Following is rundown of some of the more interesting races taking shape, based on press releases, would-be candidates’ public statements and other sources familiar with their intentions.

What is shaping up early to be among the most interesting legislative races next year will be in and around Garland County, where two Senate seats are up for grabs and the line of candidates, including House members who can still seek re-election to their seats, is getting long.

In Senate District 19, where incumbent Sen. Terry Smith, D-Hot Springs, is term-limited, two House members from Hot Springs have expressed interest in succeeding him.

Rep. Rick Saunders, D-Hot Springs, who is term-limited, has said he plans to run for the seat, as has Rep. Gene Shelby, D-Hot Springs, who is eligible to serve one more House term.

Hot Springs lawyer John Vines, a Democrat, has already announced for Shelby’s House District 25 seat.

Rep. Bill Samples, R-Hot Springs, also is term-limited and is considering challenging the Saunders-Shelby winner in the November general election.

Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, is term-limited and several people, including term-limited Rep. Mike Burris, D-Malvern, have expressed interest in running for Faris’ District 27 seat, which encompasses a large section of rural Garland County, plus parts of Grant and Saline counties and all of Hot Spring and Montgomery counties.

Other potential candidates include Democrat Bobby Pierce of Sheridan and State Police Capt. Mike Fletcher, who lives in the district and is a Democrat.

In Pulaski County, former state Rep. Linda Chesterfield of Little Rock and Hendrix College political science professor Jay Barth, both Democrats, have announced for the Senate District 34 seat held by Sen. Tracy Steele, D-North Little Rock, who is term-limited. Freshman Rep. Darrin Williams, D-Little Rock, also is considering a run for the seat.

Steele served two House terms before being elected to the Senate and is still eligible to serve another House term. He is considering a run for the District 39 seat held by Rep. Richard Carroll of North Little Rock. The freshman lawmaker elected as the state’s first Green Party legislator last year has since pronounced himself a Democrat.

Elsewhere, freshman Rep. Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe, has expressed interest in the Senate District 29 seat now held by term-limited Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy.

Rep. John Paul Wells, D-Paris, is considering the Senate District 6 seat held by term-limited Sen. Ed Wilkinson, D-Greenwood. Former Republican Rep. Jake Files of Fort Smith is mulling a run for the Senate District 13 seat now held by term-limited Sen. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith. Altes apparently is eyeing a return to the House, where he previously served one term.

As for potential challengers to Lincoln, Republican businessman Curtis Coleman of North Little Rock has formally filed papers with the Federal Election Commission to form an exploratory committee, a usual first step to becoming a candidate.

Term-limited state Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, announced early his intentions to challenge Lincoln’s bid for a third term. He has not filed papers to stake his candidacy, though, and appears to be hedging on whether he will run after drawing criticism for referring to New York Sen. Charles Schumer as “that Jew” at a recent GOP gathering.

State Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, said last week he was “more open” to running for the U.S. Senate than he was a month ago, and former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin has said he would decide by June 1 whether to throw his hat into the ring for the GOP nomination.