Each candidate responded to the most outspoken criticism from their opponent.

The race for Senate District 28 has come down to Senator Bob Ballinger and former Senator Bryan King. In the 2018 primary Ballinger unseated King by 374 votes, in the 2022 primary King outpaced Ballinger by 395 votes but neither received enough votes to take the race without a runoff.

Several campaign mailers have circulated regarding these two candidates, some of it comes from their respective campaigns and some of it coming from outside groups. During the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs Committee’s Candidate Forum on Monday night each candidate was asked specifically about these mailers and the accusations they’ve made against each other.

You can watch the full exchange between the candidates in the video below. The video will start at the specific time that each topic is being addressed. 

1. Why has Bryan King missed so many votes during his time in the legislature? (1:05:17 – 1:12:06)

When asked about the accusation that he missed 27% of the votes that happened while he was in the Senate, King responded with an example of a DHS appropriation bill that he says was unfair.

“I agree the DHS appropriation bill has a lot of great things in it, foster kids and those things” King said, “and I voted no on the Medicaid appropriation bill and guess what? They do the Washington D.C. thing. You know what they came back and hit me with in the last campaign? I didn’t care about foster kids. No, there was a lot of corruption in that bill”

He went on to refer to the ability of a representative or senator to not vote on a bill as “a protected measure” and that you have to, “stop the process, that’s what it’s about.”

Ballinger rebutted Kings statement saying that when it came to many big issues, like the publishing of the names of people who had conceal carry permits in 2011, King wasn’t there to vote.

“The bills that are most important are the ones that my district wasn’t represented in, at all” Ballinger said.

2. Does Bob Ballinger owe delinquent business or personal income taxes? (1:37:50 – 1:43:55)

“No, we have not outstanding taxes at this point,” Ballinger responded.

He went on to defend his past tax problems saying that he and his family at times have had to set up payments for their tax bill and pay it off over a period of time. He says that with eight kids there have been times his family finances have been tight, but they always pay their bills.

“In the future, I don’t know, if I had to get a credit card to pay it off, I guess I would do that so it doesn’t become public record,” Ballinger said.

He also admits that it was a mistake on his part to not have put money back ahead of time to pay his past tax bills but says the decision voters must make is whether or not they are going to worry about that issue, or the issue of which candidate will show up to vote.

King responded, “Hey, I’m a farmer. Do you think things have been perfect for us?”

He said that while hard times happen, he doesn’t write checks he can’t cash and that public officials should step up and take better responsibility for their finances.

“We can’t bus kids to school if we don’t have responsible citizens paying their taxes on time,” King said.

3. Does Bob Ballinger have ties to Josh Duggar, who was recently sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexual assault and possession of child pornography? (1:30:17 – 1:37:48)

This topic was sparked by a recent mailer from the King campaign that suggested Ballinger and his former law firm sided with the Duggar family and tried to cover up Josh Duggar’s crimes.

King said that Ballinger has taken thousands from the Duggar family in campaign funds.  

King attacked the religious beliefs of the Duggar family saying, “It’s a hard issue to talk about when you’re talking about your faith, but that is not my faith.”

 He said in 2017 when records of Josh Duggar were released that Story Law Firm, where Ballinger was then employed, took the case and, “tried to capitalize on that.”

Ballinger responded, “The truth is I am good friends with Jim Bob & Michelle [Duggar]. They are good people who have a really crummy son. Who has put them through so much pain.”

Ballinger accused King of spending 12 years in Little Rock and not doing anything to help victims of sexual assault and now that it is suiting to his campaign using them to get elected.

King also mentioned the ongoing investigation about sexual assault in the Huntsville School District saying that the families of those victims support him in this election.

Other things discussed during the Forum include specific economic development projects in this district, use of the States excess funds, state income tax, agriculture & tourism for the district, and more. See the full forum that featured candidates for Boone County Judge, Boone County Constable North, as well as Senate District 28.

Early voting is going on now at the Boone County Election Center and the runoff election will take place on June 21^st.

Watch the full forum here: