Gilbert Baker (Arkansas politician)
| Gilbert R. Baker | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 30th district | |
| In office January 8, 2001 – January 6, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Stanley Russ |
| Succeeded by | Jason Rapert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 5, 1956 Monahans, Ward County Texas, USA |
| Political party |  Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Baker |
| Children | Stephen Anna Luke Nathaniel Philip Mark Joshua Michael Baker |
| Residence | Conway, Faulkner County Arkansas |
| Alma mater | Louisiana Tech University University of Arizona |
| Occupation | Teacher/Administrator/Advisor, University of Central Arkansas |
| Religion | Nondenominational Christian |
| Website | Baker for Senate |
Gilbert R. Baker (born September 5, 1956) is a Republican former member of the Arkansas State Senate from District 30. In 2010, Baker was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate seat formerly held by the Democrat Blanche Lincoln. He served in the Senate from 2001 to 2013.[1]
A native of Monahans in West Texas, Baker holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana and a master's degree from the University of Arizona at Tucson, Arizona.
Candidacy for United States Senate
In September 2009, Baker announced his intentions to run for the U.S. Senate. He joined a crowded GOP field, including his senatorial colleague Kim Hendren, to challenge Lincoln. Polls showed discontent with Lincoln's Senate performance and voting record.[2] A poll taken November 5, 2009, showed Lincoln with a 43 percent job-approval rating, nearly 9 points down from her 2008 approval rating.[3]
After announcing for the U.S. Senate, Baker was endorsed by twenty-three members of the State House and Senate.[4]
Baker won a December 5, 2009, straw poll in Hot Springs, measuring 35 percent of the vote in a field of seven.[5]
He was considered to have been the front-runner until U.S. Representative John Boozman entered the race and won the nomination and subsequently the general election, Baker finished in third in the primary behind Boozman and former State Senator Jim Holt, a Baptist minister from Springdale.
Arkansas State Senator
Baker ranked third in Arkansas State Senate seniority in his final term, and served as Co-Chair of the Joint Budget Committee and Vice Chairman of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. He also served on the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, Legislative Facilities, Children and Youth Committee, Senate Efficiency, and Academic Facilities Oversight Committee.[6]
He was ineligible to run in 2012 and now serves as Executive Assistant to the President at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
From 1997 to 1999, he was the Republican chairman for Faulkner County, Arkansas.
References
- ↑ "Senator Gilbert Baker". 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (2009-09-01). "New GOP challenger for Blanche Lincoln". Politico. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ Murray, Shailagh (2009-11-17). "A centrist in health-care debate, Lincoln hears it from all sides". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ "Backing Baker". Arkansas Times. 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ Arkansas Times Gilbert Baker Wins GOP Straw Poll
- ↑ "Senator Gilbert Baker". 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2009-11-17.