Glad to see this is getting more press:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
The Democratic nominee for governor of Arkansas, Mike Ross, spoke out about his plan to combat domestic violence on MSNBC Wednesday, highlighting the tragic death of 21-year-old Laura Aceves as a motivating factor.
"I was inspired by Laura's story that appeared in The Huffington Post, and it played a big role in me trying to do something about domestic violence and speaking up and making sure more and more people know that it really is a problem," Ross said. "I've been moved by this... We need to talk about it a lot more."
Ross was referring to a HuffPost investigative report in June that looked at the 2012 murder of Aceves, an Arkansas resident.
At the time of Aceves' death, she had a protective order against her former boyfriend, Victor Acuna-Sanchez, who was awaiting trial on charges stemming from two prior attacks on her. Three weeks before the killing, he was charged with violating a no-contact order. Despite a record of escalating violence, he was released without posting bail the day after his arrest.
Aceves, a mother of three, was shot in the head. Her 4-month-old son was found crying at her side, covered in blood. Acuna-Sanchez now awaits trial on a capital murder charge.
The Huffington Post story delved into Arkansas' poor record on domestic violence and asked why the justice system was unable to protect Aceves.
Last week, Ross released an ambitious domestic violence plan that would include training police in lethality assessment, boosting funding for shelters, and creating a protective-order database accessible to law enforcement and court officials. - Huffington Post, 7/23/14
You can watch Ross' interview on MSNBC here:
http://www.msnbc.com/...
Ross has a serious shot here at winning this race and Asa Hutchinson (R. AR) hasn't been making things easy for himself lately:
http://www.arktimes.com/...
The place: a Northwest Arkanass forum sponsored by the Farm Bureau. The candidates: Democrat Mike Ross and Republican Asa Hutchinson. The question: Are you a member of the Farm Bureau?
Test scores: Ross (A); Hutchinson (F).
Hutchinson, who's recently aired a feel-good ad about his deep love of the farm community, confessed he wasn't a member and indicated he didn't know how you became a member. Not Mike Ross.
Transcript from the Ross campaign:
Larry Henry: Let me ask both of you guys this: Are you a Farm Bureau Member and if so how long have you been a member?
Asa Hutchinson: I didn’t pay any money.
[Pause. Audience Reactions.]
I don’t know whether I’m a member of the Farm Bureau. I haven’t – I’ve been in Congress, I worked with the Farm Bureau, uh, I’ve been to your meetings. I’m not sure what it takes to be an official member.
Larry Henry: Same thing to you.
Mike Ross: I am a member of Arkansas Farm Bureau. I pay my – what is it – thirty-five dollar annual fee. And I always get that free dinner at the Prescott-Nevada County Fair. - Arkansas Times, 7/22/14
That's why he needs his buddies to help him out:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
GOP 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney, as well as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), will campaign for Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson (R) in August.
Romney will campaign for the former congressman at an event in Jonesboro on Aug. 20, and Christie will do the same at events in Little Rock and the northwest part of the state on Aug. 27.
Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has campaigned for others this cycle, including for GOP Senate candidate Joni Ernst of Iowa and former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who's now running for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire.
Christie has also been fairly active on the 2014 campaign trail, supporting New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R). - Huffington Post, 7/21/14
Click here to donate and get involved with Ross' campaign:
http://www.mikeross.com/