Stephens Media
FORT SMITH — Steve Womack picked up his first endorsement from a former opponent today when Kurt Maddox backed the Rogers mayor for the 3rd District Republican congressional nomination.
Womack faces state Sen. Cecile Bledsoe in a runoff June 8 to determine which will face Democrat David Whitaker in the November general election to replace U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Maddox called Womack “a true conservative and a principled leader” who would stand against special interests and Washington’s “political elite.”
The Republican primary ballot had eight candidates. Womack finished with more than twice as many votes as Bledsoe in the 3rd District GOP primary, but he fell well short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff election.
Among the other candidates, Fort Smith attorney and former state legislator Gunner DeLay, former Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Steve Lowry and former state legislator Doug Matayo have lined up behind Bledsoe.
Boone County Judge Mike Moore said he would not endorse with candidate. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Bernie Skoch is expected to make an endorsement soon.
Maddox’s endorsement of Womack did not go unanswered today.
The conservative Eagle Forum of Arkansas announced it endorsed Bledsoe.
Forum president Betsy Hagan, in a news release, described Bledsoe as a “pro-life warrior.”
The group’s executive director, former state Sen. Peggy Jeffries of Fort Smith, said Bledsoe would fight to repeal the new federal health care law, strengthen the nation’s borders and oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants, and roll back federal spending.
