Congressman Tim Griffin ’90, R-Ark.–candidate for Lt. Governor.

Congressman Tim Griffin ’90, R-Ark., has announced he is running for Lt. Governor of Arkansas.

Tim, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and re-elected in 2012, currently represents the 2nd Arkansas district in Congress. He had previously announced he would not run for re-election for that job.

Tim told The North American Pembrokian his decision not to run for re-election was based on his desire “to be at home and spend more time watching my kids grow up,” something he was unable to do because of the demands on his time in Washington. Tim is the father to a three and a six-year old.

After making public his decision not to run for Congress once his current term ends, however, and “at the urging of many friends, supporters, and with the support of my family”, he decided to run for Arkansas’ open Lt. Governor post. Tim will face two other Republican candidates in the GOP primary scheduled to be held May 20. The victor in that primary will face Democrat John Burkhalter in the general election in November.

Prior to his election to Congress, Tim served as interim U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Before that, he served in the White House as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs.

Tim served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 17 years and was deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. He holds the rank of Lt. Colonel.

The office of Arkansas Lt. Governor is something of a Pembroke tradition. Winthrop “Win” Rockefeller ’69, a generous Pembroke benefactor, served for ten years as Arkansas Lt. Governor, 1996-2006. Win died of cancer at the age of 57 while in office.

Win’s widow, Lisenne, serves as Tim’s Campaign Chair.