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Chicago to Little Rock Isn’t a Giant Leap (Jeff Hankins Publisher’s Note)

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Summertime travel across the state and beyond has filled my notebook with thoughts to share:

A short vacation trip to Chicago reminded me of the opportunities that lie ahead for Little Rock and North Little Rock.

We walked five miles on the boardwalk along Lake Michigan. Locals were mostly running or cycling, the Navy Pier restaurants and attractions were packed and the parks were being prepared for a big Memorial Day event.

Though we’re on a much smaller playing field, I see vibrancy in Little Rock and North Little Rock that starts downtown and continues into west Little Rock at the new Two Rivers Bridge thanks to the trails that are nearly complete. Downtown attractions, restaurants and the River Market draw locals and visitors. We have three wonderful parks on either end of the trail and in the middle.

It’s also worth noting that after seeing little downtown commercial development and lots of empty retail space for the past four years, Chicago sure seemed to be back in the economic saddle with major construction projects and shopping centers with high occupancy again.

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The Democratic primaries for the 1st and 4th Congressional Districts met the expectations of most: a very low voter turnout, and Scott Ellington and Gene Jeffress winning. Ellington’s very narrow 51 percent victory was closer than I imagined, but his base of Jonesboro voters was light.

Republican nominee Tom Cotton has a sizeable fund-raising lead and a very favorable new district in the 4th that make him a huge favorite to win the open seat over Jeffress in November. Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford in the 1st is well funded, as well, but Democrats near and far may see Ellington as more electable and worthy of investment. Ultimately, Crawford will benefit from incumbency and make Ellington’s fund-raising efforts a challenge.

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Attorney General Dustin McDaniel decided to make his intentions clear with the announcement that he will run for governor in 2014. It’s the worst kept secret in Arkansas politics, so he was wise to confirm publicly and get on with the infant steps of a campaign.

Top Democratic contenders can’t afford to piddle around if they still want to hold any major offices in the state after the 2014 elections. Rest assured Republicans hopefuls for the open seat are plotting campaigns as well, though some of them have to secure re-election to Congress first.

McDaniel has followed the path of many successful Arkansas politicians through the Attorney General’s office. Only Gov. Mike Beebe and U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor have more statewide name recognition among Democrats, so he’s the natural candidate for the party. He has many of the advantages of an incumbent running for office.

But after eight years of a Democrat in the governor’s seat and the political sea change enjoyed by the GOP in 2010, Republicans are very eager to regain the position to complement its enormous gains in the Legislature. The GOP field will likely be far more crowded than what McDaniel will face.

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The number of new restaurants in Jonesboro during the past three years is phenomenal and a direct result of the increased availability of private club permits. The pent-up demand was enormous and the growth has been an economic boom to the city, particular for its downtown revival. (Next time you’re up there, check out Omar’s Uptown for dinner.)

Benton County saw similar results and is now working toward a vote to become an all-out "wet" county.

Can we finally agree that the notion of controlling alcohol sales as dictated by the county you live in is antiquated law and policy?

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The annual Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 feature continues to grow, with more than 500 nominations this year. Online nominations and social media – and, of course, the longstanding tradition of the program – have fueled the growth through the years.

One of my first assignments as new editor of Arkansas Business in 1993 was to help select the first class. Next year, we’ll recognize the 20th class – that will be 800 young business and political leaders that we have profiled through the years. And some of the first honorees will be turning – gasp! – 60 next year.

(Jeff Hankins can be reached via e-mail at JHankins@ABPG.com, followed on Twitter @JeffHankins and connected with at Facebook.com/Jeff.Hankins and Linkedin.com/in/JeffHankins.)

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