By: Jim Williamson - Texarkana Gazette - Published: 03/06/2010
Four years ago, Tom Briggs was the first person to announce Mike Beebe was going to be an Arkansas governor candidate.
Briggs, an investigator with the Texarkana, Ark., Police Department’s special operations division, introduced Beebe at the Capitol in Little Rock in 2006 after supporters marched to the seat of Arkansas government.
He doesn’t consider Beebe a typical politician.
Briggs remembered how Beebe helped him get an emergency leave from the Arkansas National Guard to attend the funeral for his grandfather. Beebe was Arkansas attorney general, and Briggs was in Kuwait.
“I had never known a politician or met him, but he helped me to get home for my grandfather’s funeral,” Briggs said.
“I was having trouble getting home and I was told to contact the Arkansas attorney general. He was able to get me home 16 hours after asking for help.”
Briggs urged voters through telephone conversations Friday to support Beebe.
The governor praised Briggs for his support.
“Tom stood up for me when I announced as a candidate four years ago, and I wanted to talk to him today after I filed for re-election,” Beebe said in a telephone conversation.
Briggs said Beebe’s focus in the last four years has been job creation.
“With his leadership, 23,000 new jobs have been created in the state,” Briggs said.
Beebe described the current recession as the worse in his lifetime.
“Imagine where we would be if we hadn’t created the new jobs. We’re faring much better in tough times, and when America bounces back, we’re not going to be in a big hole,” the governor said.
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localnews/2010/03/06/local-police-officer-stands-by-governor--84.php
Four years ago, Tom Briggs was the first person to announce Mike Beebe was going to be an Arkansas governor candidate.
Briggs, an investigator with the Texarkana, Ark., Police Department’s special operations division, introduced Beebe at the Capitol in Little Rock in 2006 after supporters marched to the seat of Arkansas government.
He doesn’t consider Beebe a typical politician.
Briggs remembered how Beebe helped him get an emergency leave from the Arkansas National Guard to attend the funeral for his grandfather. Beebe was Arkansas attorney general, and Briggs was in Kuwait.
“I had never known a politician or met him, but he helped me to get home for my grandfather’s funeral,” Briggs said.
“I was having trouble getting home and I was told to contact the Arkansas attorney general. He was able to get me home 16 hours after asking for help.”
Briggs urged voters through telephone conversations Friday to support Beebe.
The governor praised Briggs for his support.
“Tom stood up for me when I announced as a candidate four years ago, and I wanted to talk to him today after I filed for re-election,” Beebe said in a telephone conversation.
Briggs said Beebe’s focus in the last four years has been job creation.
“With his leadership, 23,000 new jobs have been created in the state,” Briggs said.
Beebe described the current recession as the worse in his lifetime.
“Imagine where we would be if we hadn’t created the new jobs. We’re faring much better in tough times, and when America bounces back, we’re not going to be in a big hole,” the governor said.
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localnews/2010/03/06/local-police-officer-stands-by-governor--84.php
