Former U.S. Prosecuting Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge, who resigned from his post on Friday (Aug. 21), issued a statement Monday to address speculation on his potential political future.
Eldridge, a Democrat, has been rumored to be considering a challenge to U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., who is up for re-election in 2016.
Conner’s statement, issued Monday afternoon (Aug. 24) reads: “On Friday, I finished four-and-half years in the United States Attorney’s office. I’m doing what I said I would do – talking to friends and family, and doing a lot of thinking about what comes next for me and my family.
“I do know that I always want to be a part of making a difference for Arkansas. I intend to take some time to figure out how I can best continue to serve the state and that includes looking at running for the United States Senate in 2016.
“I will make that decision in the weeks ahead.”
Boozman, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 in a win over incumbent U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., has said he will seek re-election to a second term. Boozman was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in 2002. He served as Arkansas’ 3rd District Congressman until he was elected to the Senate.
ELDRIDGE BACKGROUND
Following law school, Eldridge was a clerk for U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Eisele of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. He has interned for U.S. Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark. and worked on the senate campaign of U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. He also worked with U.S. Rep. Marion Berry. Other short clerking stints include the Prosecuting Attorney for Washington County and the prominent law firms of Wright, Lindsey and Jennings, and Mitchell Williams.
Eldridge worked at Arkadelphia-based Summit Bank and would become the bank’s CEO in 2008 – a year before being nominated by Democratic U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor for Western District Prosecutor.
Eldridge was just 33 when he was sworn in as prosecuting attorney, and his background includes working with prominent politicians and law firms. He also worked a brief stint as CEO of a bank.
Arkansas’ primary election in 2016 has been moved up to March 1 from May, with the general election date set for Nov. 8.