From left: Republican Secretary of State John Thurston, Democrat John Pagan and Libertarian Michael Pakko are running for Arkansas treasurer in a November 2024 special election. (Courtesy photos)
John Pagan says he hasn’t seen John Thurston since Jan. 13.
Pagan, the Democratic candidate for Arkansas treasurer, has been traveling the state to meet voters and pitch himself as the right candidate to oversee the state’s investment portfolio of more than $11 billion. He’s attended forums and community events as far south as Warren and as far north as Mountain Home; as far southwest as Hope and as far northeast as Corning, Piggott and Rector in Clay County.
Thurston, the Republican Secretary of State, hasn’t shown up, so he must be “hiding in this campaign,” Pagan said.
Thurston did not respond to three interview requests from the Advocate.
Meanwhile, Pagan says he’s met several voters who are upset with Thurston for his handling of a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have created a limited right to abortion. Arkansas Abortion Amendment supporters submitted more than 102,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office in July, hoping to get the measure on the November ballot, but Thurston disqualified a portion of the signatures , and in August the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld his decision not to put it on the ballot.