Spotlight on the AR 2nd Congressional District

Republican Winner, Tim Griffin
Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District is concentrated in the center of the state and includes Little Rock, the state's capital, as well as its suburbs and surrounding regions. The current U.S. Representative, Democrat Vic Snyder, announced that he would retire at the end of this term. Snyder no doubt realized he would have faced a challenging political environment in order to to win an eighth term in this conservative-leaning district which favored Republican John McCain by a near 10 point advantage over Democrat Barack Obama in 2008. In the Arkansas primary on May 18, former White House aide Tim Griffin easily defeated Scott Wallace to claim the Republican nomination. Griffin’s Democratic opponent, whom he crushed 58% to 38% in the November election, was state Sen. Joyce Elliott.
Tim Griffin
  • Fifth generation Arkansan
  • B.A degree, Hendrix College
  • J.D., Tulane Law School
  • Senior Investigative Counsel for the committee responsible for investigating waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government--the Government Reform Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, 1997-1999
  • Research Director and Deputy Communications Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC), 2004; Deputy Research Director for the RNC, 2000
  • Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas in Little Rock, 2001-2002 (emphasis on firearm and drug cases)
  • Major, U.S. Army Reserve, currently assigned to the Southeast Medical Area Readiness Support Group as the Command Judge Advocate
  • Prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the home of the 101st Airborne Division, 2005, in the case of U.S. v. Mikel, which drew national interest after Private Nicholas Mikel attempted to murder his platoon sergeant and fired upon his unit’s early morning formation; Private Mikel pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
  • Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director, Office of Political Affairs at the White House, 2005, (duties included organizing and coordinating support for Judge John G. Roberts)
  • Army JAG with the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul, Iraq, as a member of the 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team Brigade Operational Law Team; awarded Combat Action Badge, 2006
  • U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, 2006-2007
  • Founder, Griffin Law Firm, PLLC, Little Rock, a practice focused primarily on commercial litigation in federal court; Fellow, Arkansas Bar Foundation
  • Principal and founder of Griffin Public Affairs, LLC (GPA), a firm that specializes in communications counsel to companies as well as individuals
  • Serves on the Board of the Florence Crittenton Home for unwed mothers and with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas
  • Member: National Rifle Association; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Reserve Officer Association; Military Officers Association of America; Immanual Baptist Church, Little Rock

ISSUES

  • Ease the tax burden on individuals and families; reduce the tax burden and reduce federal mandates on small businesses; oppose the death tax; end taxpayer-funded bailouts; curb Washington spending; reform entitlement spending; free market solutions for health care reform; use America’s known energy sources and encourage exploration and resource development; oppose Cap and Trade; oppose Card Check; provide all necessary funding to care for our veterans; ensure that our Armed Forces receive all necessary funding; must win the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; remain vigilant to the threat posed by terrorists and support measures to keep Americans safe; support commonsense solutions to environmental questions that address long-term concerns while not putting American businesses at a competitive disadvantage; pro-life; support the Defense of Marriage Act; immigration reform must include securing the border and giving priority to those who have followed the rules; Second Amendment is an individual right; support increased transparency in the appropriations process; support school vouchers
"As a small business owner, I know what it’s like to sign the front of the paycheck, not just the back. I understand the struggles that small business owners have making ends meet and the burden that federal taxes and regulations can have on business. I understand that small business has been and should be the primary job creating engine of our economy."
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The Spotlight On reports are overviews of actual Republican primary winners or top Republican primary contenders. Spotlights should not be interpreted as recommendations to support specific candidates. Before supporting any candidate, do thorough research to confirm that the candidate shares your views on issues you deem most important.