Huckabee Campaign Press Release - Governor Mike Huckabee Launches Arkansas GOP Leadership Team

Little Rock, AR ˆ Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee announced the launch of his Arkansas GOP Leadership team today ˆ a group that includes a growing list of current and former federal and state Republican officials from the Natural State.

"Republicans in Arkansas have a long track record of taking on difficult tasks, overcoming tremendous challenges and winning battles that no one thought we could win," Huckabee said. "Despite being in a mostly Democrat state, we had great success in cutting taxes, passing pro-life legislation, fighting for the family, improving education and highways and making government more efficient."

"I have known Governor Huckabee for many years, and at one time, I served as his Chief Legal Counsel," former U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins said. "He is a true leader, who makes firm, informed decisions based on simple standards of right and wrong and what is best for the citizens who elected him. He owns his decisions and doesn't need to take a poll before deciding to do what's right. He has been so successful with his straightforward approach that it makes you wonder why more of these people don't try it."

"The two main reasons I support Gov. Huckabee for President are the fact that he has always been pro-life ˆ and he has more than 10 years of executive experience," former Cong. Jay Dickey said. "Gov. Huckabee far outdistances himself from the other candidates by his outstanding moral values and conservative convictions."

"For the past 14 years, I have watched Mike Huckabee lead our state," former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson said. "He fought the Democrat machine in Arkansas and brought honor and dignity to our highest office. He has campaigned long and hard for our Republican candidates to help build a better Arkansas ."

"I had the privilege of serving for eight years in the legislature during the Huckabee administration," Sen. Shawn Womack said. "Anyone who saw his leadership during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort had to be impressed by the way he was able to organize the resources of the state to provide relief and comfort to the tens of thousands of evacuees."

"My experience with Gov. Huckabee that of a man who was thoughtful and well reasoned in his decisions," Former Rep. Doug Matayo said. " Arkansas is much better off because Mike Huckabee was our Governor. He is the best choice for president and I completely support his candidacy."

The following is a list of those who have signed on as members of Huckabee's Arkansas GOP Leadership Team:

§ Bud Cummins ˆ Former U.S. Attorney

§ John Paul Hammerschmidt ˆ Former U.S. Congressman

§ Asa Hutchinson ˆ Former U.S. Congressman

§ Tim Hutchinson ˆ Former U.S. Senator

§ Jay Dickey ˆ Former U.S. Congressman

§ Betty Dickey ˆ Former Chief Justice of Ark. Supreme Court

§ John Boozman ˆ U.S. Congressman

§ Dennis Milligan ˆ Arkansas Republican Party Chairman

§ Gay White ˆ Former First Lady of Arkansas

Lisenne Rockefeller ˆ Widow of the Late Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller

Jim Burnett ˆ Republican National Committeeman & Former NTSB Chairman

Reta Hamilton ˆ Republican National Committeewoman

Phyllis Kincannon ˆ Arkansas Republican Party Activist

Prissy Hickerson ˆ Former Arkansas HighwayCommissioner

Doyle Webb ˆ Former State Senator

Barbara Webb ˆ Former Saline County Prosecutor

Phil Wyrick ˆ Former State Senator

Carolyn Pollan ˆ Former State Representative

Gilbert Baker ˆ State Senator

Sharon Trusty ˆ State Senator

Denny Altes ˆ State Senator

Bill Pritchard ˆ State Senator

Michael Lamoureux ˆState Representative and House Minority Leader

Mark Martin ˆ State Representative

Jim Medley ˆ State Representative

Frank Glidewell ˆ State Representative

Bryan King ˆ State Representative

Beverly Pyle ˆ State Representative

Rick Green ˆSate Representative

Mary Beth Green ˆ Former State Representative

David Haak ˆ Former State Representative

Doug Matayo ˆ Former State Representative

Hoyt Johnson ˆ Former State Representative Candidate

Andy Mayberry ˆ Former U.S. Representative Candidate

Joyce Campbell ˆ Former State Rep. Candidate

Chee Chee Tamburo ˆ Former State Rep. Candidate

Wayne Bowen ˆ Justice of the Peace

Carol Lester ˆ Arkansas County Chairman

Mark Dye ˆ Scott County GOP Chairman

Ladon Copelin ˆ GOP Party Activist

Bernard Mize ˆ Polk County Chair

Billie Sue Hoggard ˆ Former State Representative Candidate

"I'm proud to have these fellow Republicans on my team," Huckabee said. "Their support, combined with the growing momentum of the campaign, will give us what we need for a strong showing in Iowa and the early primary states."