Conrad Reynolds: Baker said He Did Not Want to be a U.S. Senator (UPDATE – Baker’s Response)
I sat down for an interesting interview today with Conrad Reynolds who is one of the many Republicans seeking to challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln next fall. Reynolds shared with me why he thinks he is the best candidate and also had some strong comments on state Sen. Gilbert Baker who just announced he is running as well.
Reynolds discussed his military background and how this influenced his decision to run. After moving around Arkansas growing up, Reynolds spent 29 years in active duty in the Army before retiring earlier last year. Reynolds served as an intelligence officer which took him to over 40 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia.
“As the Obama Administration came in, some of the things they were doing, that I saw, I believe that I needed to get involved,” said Reynolds. “There is a feeling across this country of a lack of trust of the government, particularly this administration… I felt like I am in a position now to do something.”
I asked Reynolds why he does not think that his campaign has gotten the traction that some of the other candidates have gotten early on. “I am actually happy where my campaign is at right now and the next few months you are going to hear a lot about me,” he replied. He discussed some “star quality” staff members he was bringing on such as former communication director for Rep. John Boozman, Ryan James.
I then asked Reynolds about his relationship to state Sen. Gilbert Baker who actually introduced Reynolds at his official announcement. “I really do appreciate Gilbert doing that,” he said. “That was a very nice gesture on his part.” He went on to tell me that he actually moved back to Conway a year ago to help work on Baker’s campaign for state senate. “I am a little disappointed that less than a year later he decided to use that as a stepping stone to run for the U.S. Senate against me.”
“To be honest with you, Gilbert confuses me a little bit. I have talked to him at length over last several months…During that time, he was on again, off again, didn’t know if he was going to run; so I was a little bit confused as to what his intentions were going to be. Of course, I was decisive and decided I would jump in in July. Then he called me in early August and told me of his decision to form an exploratory committee, perhaps announce sometime in the middle of October. Then, he called me last Friday and said he was going to announce today.”
“I don’t know what Gilbert’s overall plan is. I will tell you that the last time I meet with him at the Starbucks in Conway, he told me the difference between me and him is that I wanted this job and he didn’t. So I don’t know what that means. All I know is that we need a decisive candidate in this race.”
Reynolds also shared the notes from a meeting he had with Baker back in July where Baker laid out his plan not to jump in until at least March 1 and only if the other campaigns had not gotten off the ground. From my meeting with Reynolds, it is apparent he got into this race with the belief he would not have to run against his friend Baker. Although guarded in what he would say, you can tell he feels some sense of betrayal.
UPDATE – Gilbert Baker appeared this afternoon on KARN Newsradio with Dave Elswick to discuss his announcement and my story on Conrad Reynolds came up.
Baker said that Reynolds is a “great guy” and that he “can’t say enough good about him.” However when asked if he told Reynolds if he would not run against him at least until March, he said that understood that was a “private conversation” and would not discuss the details. He went on to say that things have changed over the last few months, and he feels now is the time for him to get in the race.
Tolbert note – I did send the Baker Campaign a copy of my story prior to posting and gave them an opprotunity to respond. My blog is certainly open to their side of the story and look forward to sitting down with Baker in the future for an interview to discuss this as well as anything else he would like to explore. My position throughout this Republican Primary will be to offer a forum for all the candidates to discuss their ideas and issues and hopefully can do so in an objective way.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
September 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Are you going to do an interview with Fred Ramey at some point?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
[...] of The Tolbert Report, retired U.S. Army Col. Conrad Reynolds discusses why he is getting in the race to challenge [...]
September 1st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Really good interview.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Does Gilbert Baker have a response to Conrad’s statement that Gilbert said he “doesn’t want the job”?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Brett – I should have noted that in the post. I have contacted Baker’s spokeman and I am waiting for a statement. I will post this when I get it from him.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I’m just keeping you on your toes Jason.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Conrad Reynolds told me that one of the deciding factors for him to enter the race was that his friend Gilbert Baker decided not to run. How can we trust Gilbert Baker if he misleads his close friends?
September 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I agree, James. Gilbert is willing to sell out his friends and Republican colleagues (remember Bisbee?) in order to advance his career.
Why should we replace a politician who sells us out in DC with another one who sells us out in Little Rock?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Conrad Reynolds is a great candidate, and a welcome addition to the Republican Party. I wish him all of the success in the world, and hope that he will run until he wins.
The political world has changed in the last month, and it had nothing to do with either Baker or Reynolds.
The primary process promises to winnow out the inexperienced or those who cannot raise sufficient funds. So, there really is going to be a “money” primary from now until March 1, 2010.
Can’t tell who is going to win this “money” primary. But Baker has a great shot at it, given his background as GOP Chair, and given the fact that Baker has a “free shot” at running for US Senate.
I don’t say those things to discourage Conrad Reynolds; but to point out that the money available to GOP candidates in AR is quite limited. Baker will take more than his share. Unless Reynolds is independently wealthy – or unless wealthy D’s step up and put their money into this primary race – it is difficult to see Reynolds winning the money primary.
Will Reynolds make it to March 1, probably. Will he make it to the May primary, possibly. Does that put him into contention next fall, probably not, though, sad to say.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I am looking forward to meeting Conrad Reynolds the next time he comes to Fort Smith.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Whichever Republican candidate that wins the nomination is going to be at a severe disadvantage in the money race against Lincoln. I’d be shocked if after the primary election and the run-off primary election that the Republican Senate candidate will have very much cash on hand. There is no way with 10 plus candidates that there will be one clear leader. It wouldn’t shock me if 20% of the vote in the initial primary will get you into the run-off. I’m not going to vote for a candidate like Baker just because he might be able to raise a lot of money. I’m an undecided voter, and my initial reaction to Gilbert Baker is very negative, and he didn’t do anything to help himself on the Dave Elswick show this afternoon.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
[...] Reynolds, a Republican hopeful for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Blanche Lincoln, tells Jason Tolbert he is “disappointed” that state Sen. Gilbert Baker, a fellow Conway resident, has [...]
September 1st, 2009 at 9:05 pm
It amazes me that we now have enough to make a basketball team, not a good one but still yet a team. We are becoming the laughing stock. We need to get behind Coleman before we totally blow it. I to agree that if Baker will turn on his friend he will turn on the people. Very BIG mistake Gilbert!!
September 1st, 2009 at 9:20 pm
SenateWatch I was going to ignore your comment since you’re wrong in your analysis almost beyond belief. However you’re also factually wrong. Maybe you don’t know much about Arkansas politics which could explain the error. But Arkansas has an open primary. While you cannot vote in both the Democrat and Republican primary, you can pick which one you want. So while I’m a registered Republican, I can vote in a Democrat primary if I so choose. This has been the case for as long as I can remember and there has always been the idea that the other party could cross over to influence the primary. If you look at history you’ll see that there is no indication of this ever happening. Oh yea, speaking of history. In recent history there has never been an independent elected to a statewide office in Arkansas.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Sounds to me that Baker doesn’t want to play the “he said she said” game with Conrad. If he denies saying it then he is saying his friend is lying about it. If he did say it then he actually said he doesn’t want the job.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Remember to look and see what kind of people Gilbert is surrounding himself with. If his old buddy Don Thomas will up and leave Conrad after making a commitment to his campaign then what kind of person is he. The Answer, the same kind of guy Gilbert is, a wolf in a sheeps outfit. What ever happen to finishing the office you begged the voters to let you have. Apparently loyalty has no place in this race. Someone needs to step up and be a leader in this party. We have a bunch of individuals going in all directions on their own. They are getting the appearence of a bunch of Independents. Then again maybe we really all are.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Thank you Seriously?. I’m so tired of the ridiculous Trevor Drown comments.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
Senatewatch is right. One day, you will wake up and it will be too late!!! Repent now, for Trevor Drown will come like a thief in the night. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left behind. For no one will know when the Bridegroom cometh.
Wait, wait…that can’t be right….
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 am
Hey, Breanne, read it, smell it, taste it. Defeat! 1st Ammendment baby, Proud to be an American. All that is left is ignore it or Jason, can delete it. Either way, we win, you loose! Tom Cotton Rules!, Wolverine!!!!
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:07 am
SenateWatch – I don’t delete comments unless they are offensive or contain personnal attacks.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am
Trevor Down = Independent = zero chance of winning
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
Senatewatch has some problems in her analysis and could not know AR election law very well.
But we all need to remember that Indies do have a record of success in AR. Even the GOP Chair should search his memory banks (since he, too, got this wrong).
Go back to the 1968 Presidential Election…. Hint: this State did not vote for Nixon!
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 am
Ahh come on Jimmy C. At least put a little more meat into it. You give me nothing to work with. Pretty weak drive-by comment. Here are some ones to consider in the future as a reason he will loose. Money, Message, Party Affliation, Inexperience, Name Recognition, No Law degree, Military, etc. I am prepared for them all but you gotta do better than the age old argument independent means you cannot win. Times are a changing, my boy and the Arkies are coming out of the hills with their pitchforks and they Ain’t Happy. They are forming up and massing ready to do battle. Trevor is their man, he speaks to them and they agree with him. It is time to change the way we do things. It is time to build bridges and end people’s sufferings. Someone is going to pay the price and become unemployed.
September 4th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
[...] Political junkies can’t believe their good fortune now that Glbert Baker’s officially in the race for Blanche Lincoln’s U.S. Senate seat. Others, like fell0w-candidate Conrad Reynolds, are just confused as to why. [...]
September 6th, 2009 at 4:42 am
MT TREVORS “PEROT EFFECT” ASIDE – AND INSPITE OF THE BOMBASTIC SENATE WATCH – I KNOW THIS – ARKANSANS WILL DO THE SELECTING OF THE SLATE. THE RNC IS PUTTING TO MUCH ON THE TRIED AND TRUE THAT GOT US HERE. HERE HOWEVER, IS NOT A GOOD PLACE, AND A RELATIVE NEWCOMER LIKE A FRESH BREEZE,MAY REJUVENATE THE CYNICAL AMONG US AND GET US BACK ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERING OUR POLITICAL I.D. AS A STATE.RIGHT NOW I’M LOOK’EN FOR HONEST HORSE SENSE AND COL. REYNOLDS AND CAPT COTTON WOULD BE A MORE INTERESTING DISCUSSION THAN OLD HANDS GILBERT/COLMEN,PEOPLE ARE THE GOVERNMENT SO IF U DONT LIKE THE GOV’T YOU GOT THEN DONT GO W/CHOICES THAT PERPETUATE THE CURRENT STAFFING OF THAT GOV’T.GOD SAVE US FROM THE HOWEVER FROM THE SKULL @ BONES MENTALITY OF THE EAST COAST INTELLECTUAL ELITES.P.S. THIS IS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION – SO LIGHT’EN UP SENATE WATCH
September 6th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
If you people don’t want to have Blanche back in office again you had better support Gilbert. Those of you criticizing Baker obviously have little knowledge of Ark Rep Politics because Gilbert has worked longer and harder for Republicans in this state than all of the other Rep., Green, & Indep. candidates put together. Or most likely you are Dems trying to lambast Baker because you know he has a real shot at beating Blanche. And who wants a whine baby like Reynolds as a candidate. If Reynolds is already whining, how in the world is he going to be able to deal with the national Dem Party? Reynolds just saw a chance to take a cheap shot at a primary opponent & took it.
September 7th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Ann you need to read what you have written. What you wrote is exactly why we do not need Gilbert. You say he has “worked longer and harder for Republicans then all other candidates put together” The old party politics is what has our country in trouble. We need fresh blood. Out with the old and in with the new!
September 7th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Gilbert is such a backstabber. There is no room for him in our race for victory. Go Conrad.