By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — Former Arkansas Farm Bureau president Stanley Reed of Marianna said today he will run as a Republican for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Blanche Lincoln.
“After a few months of consideration, I am getting in the race,” Reed, 58, told the Arkansas News Bureau.
Reed, also a former chairman of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, declined to discuss his reasons for running, saying he would answer questions at a news conference early next year.
“We need to go ahead before Christmas to get our fundraising going,” he said. “We’ll have two or three weeks here to get our canvass campaign organized and all the things you have to do to really get one running, so that’s the reason we’re going ahead and making the announcement now, to get fundraising in place.”
A year ago, Reed said he doubted he could challenge Lincoln because she had been a strong advocate for agricultural interests. But in October he said he was considering running and said Lincoln had “waffled” on several issues such as health care.
Reed said today he feels “very good” about his decision.
Steve Patterson, Lincoln’s campaign manager, said Thursday, “We’re not going to have any comment on any of these Republican entries. My standard response is they’ve all got to go win a primary before they’re her opponent. She’s focused on serving the people of Arkansas and working hard every day, and she’ll stand against the (GOP) nominee.”
Reed is the eighth Republican to announce plans to seek the Republican nomination to challenge Lincoln, who will seek a third term next year.
A campaign staff member of state Sen. Gilbert Baker of Conway, the winner of last weekend’s Republican straw poll, said Baker welcomed Reed’s entry into the race.
“We look forward to a spirited primary,” said Alice Stewart, Baker’s deputy campaign manager. “It was clear at the straw poll last weekend that Republicans are engaged in this campaign. At the end of the day, if Reed now wants to get involved with the Republican Party, we welcome it.”
Stewart would not say if she was referring to Reed’s past support for Democratic candidates, including Lincoln.
Reed has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering and a law degree, both from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He served on the UA Board of Trustees from 1998-2008, the last two years as chairman.
Reed served as president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm lobby, from 2003-2008.
He and his wife, Charlene, have been married for 36 years. They have three grown children.
——-
Arkansas News Bureau reporters Rob Moritz and James Jefferson contributed to this report.
