by anthony childress

and michael wilkey

JONESBORO — Some are in; some are not. Others are not sure yet.

The list of people interested in the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, remains long if not settled.

As of Friday afternoon, a number of Democratic would-be candidates were either closing in on making official announcements for their party’s nomination or had backed out altogether.

One of them — former District 74 state Rep. Chris Thyer of Jonesboro — has decided against the race.

“I have spent a number of years preparing to run for Congress. It is something I planned for and wanted to do, but family considerations made the difference,” Thyer, a partner in the Jonesboro-based Stanley and Thyer Law Firm, told The Sun.

In reaching his decision, Thyer said he talked with his wife, Circuit Judge Cindy Thyer, about a campaign and potential House of Representatives career, and the pair felt “it was doable.” However, he added that a chat with the older of his two children cinched the decision not to run.

“My son looked at the calendar that we put on the table detailing how much time it would take for me to be in Congress, and he studied it for a little bit, then started crying, and he said he didn’t want me to do it. I knew then the decision was made,” Thyer said. He has not endorsed another candidate.

Another Jonesboro legislator whose name has surfaced in connection with the race, District 14 state Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, said Friday he was happy in his current post. Though he was flattered to have been mentioned as a would-be successor to Berry, wanted to stay put. He said he had talked with several people looking at running and felt they each brought strengths to the table.

“My full intent is to run for re-election to the state Senate this year,” Bookout said. “That’s what I’m planning on doing. Obviously, any time something like this comes up, you pause and look at it. You talk to your family, your friends, your colleagues. But I enjoy my work in the Legislature and want to continue it. I love what I do.”

State Sen. Robert Thompson, D-Paragould, who represents District 11 in Little Rock said he is “seriously looking” at jumping into the fray while considering factors like family, his work as an attorney and other matters before reaching a decision. A former Greene County state lawmaker, former state Sen. Tim Wooldridge, D-Paragould, has discussed running but not made a decision yet.

State Treasurer Martha Shoffner, D-Newport, a former state representative, said she is “not interested” in the seat and is up for re-election this year to a second 4-year term in office.

State Sen. Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville, said Thursday he is still considering the race for the U.S. House this year.

Bryles, who represents Mississippi and Poinsett counties in District 15, said issues like economic development and jobs would play a role in his campaign if he decides to run.

“I have spent my public career working on economic development and jobs. To serve would be a wonderful challenge,” Bryles said.

He said he will be consulting with his supporters this weekend, noting a decision on the issue is likely to be made early next week.

“The decision will have to be made pretty darn quick,” Bryles said. “The brevity of this campaign is nice. It will be quick through the primary. The summer and fall will be a very active time. The overall next six months — no one likes long, compacted campaigns.”

Meanwhile, District 53 state Rep. Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis, said he expects to make a decision about running in the next week or so and is “very much considering” a bid after meeting with constituents and campaign consultants recently. Ingram is a former mayor of the city that sits in his district.

Jason Willett of Jonesboro, former state Democratic Party chairman and Berry aide, has also expressed an interest in the race. He said he is setting up an exploratory committee to consider a candidacy.

Berry’s former chief of staff, Jonesboro native Chad Causey, is another name frequently mentioned among the people looking at the battle to replace him on Capitol Hill come January 2011. Causey has said he is looking at the race but has not made an official move yet.

Other Democrats mentioned as possible candidates include former state House Speaker Benny Petrus of Stuttgart, 3rd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Henry Boyce of Newport, District 51 state Rep. David Dunn of Forrest City, former state Sen. Scott Ferguson of West Memphis and former state Sen. Kevin Smith of Stuttgart.

GOP ledger

Republican Princella Smith, a Wynne native, said she will be moving back to Cross County to prepare to announce forming an exploratory committee.

Smith, who serves as communications director for Rep. Joseph Cao, R-La., said she plans to engage in a listening tour for the next couple of weeks in the district.

She said she plans to talk to members of her committee before making a final decision on the race.

Jonesboro businessman Rick CRAWFORD has been the lone GOP hopeful for several months, though other Republicans have appeared on possible candidate lists. They include District 1 state Sen. Johnny Key of Mountain Home, District 48 state Rep. Davy Carter of Cabot, Circuit Judge and former state legislator Shawn Womack, also of Mountain Home, former Congressman Tommy Robinson of Brinkley, who represented the state’s 2nd District as both a Democrat and Republican and ran against Berry in 2002.

Woody Freeman, the GOP’s gubernatorial candidate in 1984, has also appeared on the successor list.

But he said that speculation had no validity.

“I am supporting Rick CRAWFORD 100 percent, and he is going to be our next congressman,” Freeman said. “It is flattering to hear my name associated with the discussion, but I am fully behind Rick.”

The state’s Green Party has its own candidate for the seat in Kenton Adler, a Batesville resident and U.S. Navy vetera. He is an academic computing coordinator at Lyon College there.

How it happened

The veteran lawmaker announced his retirement Monday, citing health concerns. He is in the midst of a seventh 2-year term in office after being first elected to the post in November 1996, succeeding former Rep. Blanche Lincoln, D-Helena, who two years later won the Senate seat that she is defending this fall.

Berry joined fellow Democratic Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, who represent the state’s 2nd Congressional District, as the second incumbent lawmaker to spurn re-election this year.

The decision by Berry not to seek re-election this November will cap a 14-year House career in January, during which the congressman has served on several committees, including both the House Agriculture and House Appropriations committees.

anthony@jonesborosun.com

mwilkey@jonesborosun.com