WASHINGTON — Two

candidates in Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District contest took several jabs at U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., during a debate Tuesday in pursuit of two separate goals.

For Democrat Rodney Govens of Cabot, the debate provided an opportunity to criticize Crawford’s nearly 14 years on Capitol Hill and argue that the congressman is disconnected from Arkansans.

“‘Where’s Rick?’ seems to be a common theme throughout the Delta,” Govens said.

From Libertarian Steve Parsons’ perspective, the Lakeview resident positioned his candidacy as a tool for pushing Crawford to change his policy positions.

“If you think you can run your life better than the federal government, we can send a message,” he said.

Crawford, who joined the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2011, defended his congressional record, arguing he is still the right person to represent Arkansas’ 1st District in Washington, D.C.

“I work hard for my constituents from the Delta all the way up into the Ozarks,” the Jonesboro congressman said. “I don’t ask what your political persuasion is. When people stick their head in the door of my office, we offer solutions.”

DEBATE OVER ISSUES

All three congressional candidates participated in the debate at Arkansas PBS’s studios on the University of Central Arkansas campus. Veteran journalist Steve

Barnes moderated the event. KASU Public Radio news director Brandon Tabor, KAITTV’s Diana Davis and Talk Business & Politics reporter George Jared presented questions.

Arkansas’ 1st District contains Arkansas’ counties bordering the Mississippi River. The district also extends into north Arkansas and includes parts of the Ozarks.

Govens — a U.S. Army veteran with a background in telecommunications — cri

tiqued Crawford’s congressional tenure, contending the congressman has not done enough to engage with constituents.

“Once we get elected here in November of this year, we’re going to hold quarterly town halls,” Govens said. “That’s something that the incumbent has decided not to do in the last 12 years, and I think it’s sorely needed.”

Govens added Arkansans need someone “who understands the issues,” making reference to water outages in Helena-West Helena that left residents without services.

“Our congressman has been nowhere to be seen in the last 12 years throughout the Delta. It’s time for a change, and it’s time to bring back town halls and actual civic engagement,” the Cabot resident said.

OUTREACH TO CONSTITUENTS

Crawford defended his record and his office’s outreach to constituents, contending he helped arrange meetings with Helena-West Helena and other local leaders “almost two years ago” concerning local infrastructure problems.

“My presence in the district is felt directly, and those constituents know it,” the congressman said. “I’ve been leading on that particular issue for almost two years now, so you can put that away.”

Crawford later jabbed Govens over how long the Democratic candidate has lived in Arkansas. Govens and his family have resided in Cabot since 2017.

The congressman said he does not believe Govens has the answers to the 1st District’s problems, saying his Democratic opponent is “fairly fresh to the landscape.”

“I’m glad you think in seven years of living here that you’ve got an answer to all the problems that exist here in the Delta region, which is an important part of this district,” the incumbent told Govens. “The folks in the Delta region know me (and) have known me for years.”

During a September interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Parsons acknowledged that Libertarians and other third-party candidates tend to fare poorly in general election contests compared to their Republican and Democratic opponents.

SENDING A MESSAGE

A former adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Parsons has set a goal of getting 4% of total votes in next month’s election, arguing during the debate that it could be enough to “send a message that business as usual, big government as usual is no longer acceptable.”

“You can’t do that by voting for Mr. Govens because it’s going to be lost in the 22 to 25% of the vote that he is going to get,” Parsons said.

“If you are tired of the hyperpartisan bickering, if you’re tired of the pro-wrestling style of political theater, we can send a message,” he added.

Parsons and Crawford did engage in a tense exchange over abortion policy at one point in the debate. Crawford — answering a question regarding whether he would support a nationwide abortion ban — said the U.S. Supreme Court handed the matter to state governments in its June 2022 decision overturning the Roe v. Wade precedent.

“I don’t support a federal decision on that,” Crawford added.

Parsons made note of Crawford’s support of federal legislation related to abortion services.

“On this one, congressman, I’m going to have to say I’m calling you a hypocrite,” Parsons said.

“Your facts are incorrect,” Crawford responded, interrupting Parsons. “I said I’d never voted on a federal ban on abortion.”

“Whose time slot is this?” Parsons asked.

“You want to talk to me, I’ll talk to you,” Crawford answered as Barnes restored order.

Govens said women should have a right to control their bodies and the freedom to make decisions concerning reproductive health.

“This should be a no-brainer,” he said. “Women deserve to have the right to make their own choices over their own bodies, and that’s the end of that discussion.”

FEDERAL HURRICANE RESPONSE

As Tuesday’s debate began, meteorologists were monitoring Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center has warned the storm will make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday as Milton strengthens into a Category 5 system.

As multiple local, state and federal agencies continue to assess damage in Appalachia caused by Hurricane Helene, Crawford described the federal response as “poor.”

“FEMA money is important in an emergency. That’s why it shouldn’t be used to house illegal immigrants and have all the money that was allocated for emergency relief in an emergency for U.S. citizens,” he said. “Instead, this administration has chosen to redirect that money on the front end, using it to house illegals and provide services that should go to American citizens.”

In the days since FEMA launched its response to Helene, has had to address rumors surrounding its efforts, saying funding for disaster response efforts is not being diverted to the United States’ involvement in international conflicts or matters related to border security.

Former President Donald Trump has pushed claims that FEMA is directing money toward helping migrants who illegally entered the United States. Other criticisms have focused on the United States’ efforts supporting Ukraine and Israel, with critics arguing the federal government should not have spent this money on these causes.

Crawford said the federal government needs to balance domestic needs and its international responsibilities. Govens voiced support for balancing the United States’ priorities, but he added the federal government needs to provide better support for agencies and domestic programs.

Parsons contended the United States does not have a constitutional authority to serve as the “world’s charity” and “world’s police.” He further proposed eliminating FEMA, arguing the agency subsidizes people for living in areas susceptible to natural disasters.

One matter not mentioned during the debate was Crawford’s involvement in an ongoing federal lawsuit concerning congressional pay. The lawsuit argues that the executive branch and Congress have violated federal law and the Constitution by failing to make routine cost-of-living adjustments to federal lawmakers’ salaries.

The baseline salary for most members of Congress is $174,000.

Crawford is the only active member of Congress involved in the legal challenge.

“We can decide to ignore the Constitution even though we swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, or we can get compliant with the Constitution,” the congressman said during a post-debate press conference.

Govens described Crawford’s involvement in the lawsuit as “audacious” in a similar post-debate press conference. Parsons said he would not have signed onto the lawsuit, promising to donate his salary to philanthropic causes in the district if elected to Congress.