Burkhalter files for Lt. Gov., Pledges to Use Small Business Background to Create Jobs, Opportunity for Arkansas

Little Rock, AR – Arkansas small business owner John Burkhalter today filed to be the state’s next Lieutenant Governor, pledging to use his experience creating jobs to help struggling families and businesses.

Burkhalter identified three key areas that he will focus on as Lieutenant Governor to help grow the Arkansas economy: creating a trained and educated workforce; building infrastructure; and keeping taxes and regulation low.

“I’m running because Arkansas should be the best place in America to start a business and raise a family,” Burkhalter said. “Too many folks are still struggling, and we have to do more to get this economy moving again. I’m not a politician. I have a different kind of experience. I’ve committed my entire life to building businesses and creating jobs right here in Arkansas.”

Burkhalter is an engineer by trade and has built a number of successful companies. He also served as the Chairman of the Economic Development Commission and was appointed by Gov. Beebe to the Arkansas State Highway Commission.

After filing, Burkhalter announced that starting next week he will launch a small business listening tour. He said the tour would be an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from job creators about what state government can do to help them grow and attract new businesses and industries.

“It’s time that Arkansas entrepreneurs have a Lieutenant Governor on their side,” Burkhalter said. “Our career politicians talk all day and all night, but they don’t do enough listening. There are folks out there today with good ideas who just need a champion. That’s the kind of Lieutenant Governor I will be.”

Burkhalter was joined today by his wife Penny and two daughters for candidate filing at the Capitol.