Gus Wingfield
Encyclopedia
Gus Wingfield is a former one term Arkansas State Treasurer
, and two term Arkansas State Auditor, 1994-2003. He served from 2003-2007.
and went to a public school in the nearby town of Delight, Arkansas
. He served in the Air Force
, and is a veteran of both World War II
and the Korean War
. After the Korean War he attended college at the Southern Technical Institute in Dallas, Texas
, and later went to the University of Arkansas
.
the primary, which he narrowly won, defeating fellow State Representative Bobby Tullis by just over 3 percentage points. He went on to easily win the General Election, defeating the Republican candidate 63-37. He went on to serve two terms as a respected, and competent State Auditor without any notable controversies or slips. Indeed, that has been the sum of his entire life. Throughout his life Wingfield has been known for his strong work ethic, and his financial saviness. His political career has been remarkably low key for this day and age, (except for the major scandal which emerged in his first year as State Treasurer) which made him an almost invisible statewide official, while all the while he worked diligently and competently behind the scenes.
In 2002, When Democrat Jimmie Lou Fisher
, the long time State Treasurer of Arkansas, having served the maximum number of terms under the 1994 terms limits approved by Arkansas voters, ran against incumbent Republican Mike Huckabee
, Gus Wingfield ran for her open State Treasurer Seat. He won the Democratic primary easily, and ended up winning what was a surprisingly competitive and close statewide race against Randy Bynum. Wingfield took only 57% of the vote in that election, which turned out to be his smallest margin in the three statewide elections he has run, and in his entire political career. During the first year of his only term as Treasurer, three ethics complaints were filed against him for promoting his daughters to hefty salaried positions on his staff http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/20921. He was fined by the Arkansas State Ethics Commission http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2006/02/10/News/333958.html. This was one of the events, (others included Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels (politician)
who was also accused of nepotism), which led to legislation enacted by the 2005 General Assembly to prevent nepotism in Arkansas State Government.
One reason he has always performed fairly strongly is his views, and his great understanding of the issues and problems of rural Arkansas, which have earned him much respect from rural areas across the state.
1994 General Election
1994 Democratic Primary
Arkansas State Treasurer
The Arkansas State Treasurer acts as the head banker for the State of Arkansas, handling deposits, withdrawals, redemptions of state warrants, and investments of state funds. The position was created in 1819 when Arkansas became a territory...
, and two term Arkansas State Auditor, 1994-2003. He served from 2003-2007.
Early life
Wingfield was born in Antoine, ArkansasAntoine, Arkansas
Antoine is a town in Pike County, Arkansas, United States, along the Antoine River. The population was 156 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Antoine is located at...
and went to a public school in the nearby town of Delight, Arkansas
Delight, Arkansas
Delight is a city in Pike County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 311 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace of country musician Glen Campbell, though the actual early home of the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee was in nearby Billstown, which Campbell describes as a "suburb" of...
. He served in the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and is a veteran of both World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. After the Korean War he attended college at the Southern Technical Institute in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, and later went to the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
.
Business career
Wingfield became a respected employee at the Bank of Delight, where his saviness and intelligence, as well as his well connected family, helped him quickly rise the ranks. In 1968, he was hired as Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors. He went on to hold that position for over 22 years, until, he retired to serve as State Auditor.Early political career
He was elected in the mid-1970s to the Delight School Board. In 1978 he lost his first race for the Arkansas General Assembly by just over 300 votes. In 1980 he ran again and won the District 18 seat. He served a total of 14 years a State Representative, during which he became highly respected, and well known within Democratic circles, which helped him in the 1994 primary for State Auditor.1994 election as State Auditor
He left the State House of Representatives to run for State Auditor in the Republican year of 1994, however, their gains in Arkansas were minimal. The most competitive part of the race wasthe primary, which he narrowly won, defeating fellow State Representative Bobby Tullis by just over 3 percentage points. He went on to easily win the General Election, defeating the Republican candidate 63-37. He went on to serve two terms as a respected, and competent State Auditor without any notable controversies or slips. Indeed, that has been the sum of his entire life. Throughout his life Wingfield has been known for his strong work ethic, and his financial saviness. His political career has been remarkably low key for this day and age, (except for the major scandal which emerged in his first year as State Treasurer) which made him an almost invisible statewide official, while all the while he worked diligently and competently behind the scenes.
In 2002, When Democrat Jimmie Lou Fisher
Jimmie Lou Fisher
Jimmie Lou Fisher , grew up in Paragould, Arkansas. She attended school at Delaplaine School in Delaplaine, Arkansas. She, at a very early age, became interested in politics, and aspired to be successful...
, the long time State Treasurer of Arkansas, having served the maximum number of terms under the 1994 terms limits approved by Arkansas voters, ran against incumbent Republican Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
, Gus Wingfield ran for her open State Treasurer Seat. He won the Democratic primary easily, and ended up winning what was a surprisingly competitive and close statewide race against Randy Bynum. Wingfield took only 57% of the vote in that election, which turned out to be his smallest margin in the three statewide elections he has run, and in his entire political career. During the first year of his only term as Treasurer, three ethics complaints were filed against him for promoting his daughters to hefty salaried positions on his staff http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/20921. He was fined by the Arkansas State Ethics Commission http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2006/02/10/News/333958.html. This was one of the events, (others included Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels (politician)
Charlie Daniels (politician)
Charlie Daniels is an American Democratic Party politician from Arkansas. He is currently Auditor for the state of Arkansas and previously served as Arkansas’s Secretary of State and Commissioner of State Lands.-Early Life and Career:...
who was also accused of nepotism), which led to legislation enacted by the 2005 General Assembly to prevent nepotism in Arkansas State Government.
Political views
Wingfield is considered a part of the conservative wing of the U.S. Democratic Party. He believes abortion should be safe legal and rare, is pro-gun, and pro marriage. He nearly lost his 1994 Democratic Primary.One reason he has always performed fairly strongly is his views, and his great understanding of the issues and problems of rural Arkansas, which have earned him much respect from rural areas across the state.
Retirement
Wingfield has said he has no intentions of running for further public office, and that he would like to enjoy retirement before he dies. He told Arkansas News Bureau, in this article, http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2006/02/10/News/333958.html ""We're looking at a great trip. We want to catch Amtrak and go up through Canada and all the away across Canada and view the Rockies, do stuff like that." He has made it clear that he all he wants to do is travel parts of the U.S. he's never seen, and then when he's had his fill, he intends to come home to Delight, Arkansas, and live out the rest of his life with his wife Alice Wingfield at their local home.Election history
2002 General Election| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Gus Wingfield (D) | 445,639 | 57.49 | |
| Randy Bynum (R) | 329,428 | 42.51 | |
| Gus Wingfield (D) elected State Treasurer | |||
- Unopposed in 1998 reelection.
1994 General Election
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Gus Wingfield (D) | 423,407 | 62.96 | |
| Darrell Glascock (R) Darrell Glascock Darrell Glascock is a US media consultant who once challenged Bill Clinton to a drug test.He specializes in politics and crisis management. He recently told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that he began his foray in politics in 1960 at the age of 14 speaking on the stump for Louisiana State Senator... |
249,051 | 37.04 | |
| Gus Wingfield (D) reelected | |||
1994 Democratic Primary
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Gus Wingfield (D) | 166,856 | 51.84 | |
| Bobby Tullis (D) | 155,018 | 48.16 | |
| Gus Wingfield (D) | |||