Gilbert Baker (politician)

Gilbert R. Baker (born September 5, 1956) is a Republican former member of the Arkansas State Senate for District 30, with service from 2001 to 2013. In 2010, Baker was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate seat formerly held by the Democrat Blanche Lincoln.[1]

Gilbert R. Baker
Chair of the Arkansas Republican Party
In office
2004–2007
Preceded byWinthrop Paul Rockefeller
Succeeded byDennis Milligan
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 30th district
In office
January 8, 2001 – January 6, 2013
Preceded byStanley Russ
Succeeded byJason Rapert
Personal details
Born (1956-09-05) September 5, 1956
Monahans, Texas
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Susan Baker
ChildrenStephen
Anna
Luke
Nathaniel
Philip
Mark
Joshua
Michael Baker
ResidenceConway, Faulkner County
Arkansas
Alma materLouisiana Tech University
University of Arizona
OccupationTeacher/Administrator/Advisor, University of Central Arkansas
WebsiteBaker for Senate

Biography

A native of Monahans in West Texas, Baker holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana and a master's degree from the University of Arizona at Tucson, Arizona.

Candidacy for United States Senate
See also: United States Senate elections, 2010

In September 2009, Baker announced his intentions to run for the U.S. Senate. He joined a crowded GOP field, including his senatorial colleague Kim Hendren. Polls showed discontent with Lincoln's Senate performance and voting record.[2] A poll taken November 5, 2009, showed Lincoln with a 43 percent job-approval rating, nearly 9 points down from her 2008 approval rating.[3]

After announcing for the U.S. Senate, Baker was endorsed by twenty-three members of the State House and Senate.[4] On December 5, 2009, Baker won a straw poll in Hot Springs with 35 percent of the vote in a field of seven.[5]

He was considered to have been the front-runner until U.S. Representative John Boozman entered the race and won the nomination and subsequently the general election, Baker finished in third in the primary behind Boozman and former State Senator Jim Holt, a Baptist minister from Springdale.

Arkansas State Senator

Baker ranked third in Arkansas State Senate seniority in his final term, and served as co-chair of the Joint Budget Committee and vice chairman of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. He also served on the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, Legislative Facilities, Children and Youth Committee, Senate Efficiency, and Academic Facilities Oversight Committee.[6] From 1997 to 1999, he was the Republican chairman for Faulkner County.

Term-limited in 2012, he left the Senate to become the executive assistant to the president at the University of Central Arkansas at Conway, where he resides.

Indictment by Federal Grand Jury

On January 11, 2019, Baker was indicted on counts of conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud. The indictment is related to a bribery scheme involving former Faulkner County Circuit Judge Mike Maggio.[7]

References
  1. "Senator Gilbert Baker". January 1, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  2. Kraushaar, Josh (September 1, 2009). "New GOP challenger for Blanche Lincoln". Politico. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  3. Murray, Shailagh (November 17, 2009). "A centrist in health-care debate, Lincoln hears it from all sides". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  4. "Backing Baker". Arkansas Times. November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  5. Arkansas Times Gilbert Baker Wins GOP Straw Poll
  6. "Senator Gilbert Baker". January 1, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  7. "Former Arkansas lawmaker indicted on conspiracy, bribery charges". Arkansas Online. January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
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