Northwest Arkansas Times confirms that David Whitaker is running for Congress

The day David Whitaker announced he would resign as assistant city attorney for Fayetteville, Arkansas, the rumor started circulating that he would run for John Boozman's seat in Congress. Finally, a public announcement in the Northwest Arkansas Times of October 6, 2009, confirms his decision.

Whitaker seeking Boozman’s position
By Robin Mero
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE — for the 3rd District of Arkansas, now held by Republican John Boozman.

Whitaker revealed his plan at the third annual Democrats Rock fundraiser, hosted by Denise and Hershey Garner at their Fayetteville home.

Whitaker is chairman of the Washington County Democratic Central Committee and served as assistant city attorney for the last eight years.

Whitaker on Monday said he filed

When Assistant Fayetteville City Attorney David Whitaker announced his plans to resign last week, he wouldn’t say what his next step would be.

He did say it would involve a new opportunity in public service and he would have more to say in early October.

He stayed true to his word when the Democrat announced Friday his intent to seek the U.S. representative positionnecessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, but it wasn’t yet posted on the FEC Web site on Monday afternoon.

For the rest of the year, Whitaker will gear up his campaign, focusing on fundraising.

“I’ve had a good response so far, working the phones today. I think we have a rare moment in time,” Whitaker said.

He will make a formal announcement after the first of the year.

“Until then, I’ll be reaching out to friends and associates in the district and around the state,” he said.

Two Republicans have announced candidacy for the position, incumbent Boozman and Bernard “Bernie” Skoch.

Whitaker lived in Georgia and Virginia before coming to Northwest Arkansas in 1996 for law school. He was age 35 then and had served six years with the U.S. Air Force. He lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Lisa; they have two grown daughters.

Before working for Fayetteville, he was director of the Washington County Domestic Violence Task Force, under a U.S. Department of Justice grant through the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office. That grant ended in 2000, and Whitaker for a short time took private cases and appointed work with the state Public Defender Commission.