Who is Asa Hutchinson: Biography, Family, Time Life and Career

AMELI JUU April 03, 2023 | 01:13

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is running for U.S president in 2024. Who is he?

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Asa Hutchinson. Photo: Grabstars.

Asa Hutchinson (73) who previously served as governor of Arkansas, has declared his intention to run for president in 2024. Given the recent charges brought against him, he believes that Donald Trump should withdraw from the race.

Who is Asa Hutchinson: Biography

William Asa Hutchinson II was born on December 3, 1950. He is an American businessman, attorney and politician serving as the 46th and current Governor of Arkansas since 2015.

A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the U.S. According to the ballotpedia.org, attorney for the Fort Smith-based Western District of Arkansas (1982–1985), U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district (1997–2001), Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (2001–2003)) and the first Undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security at the United States Department of Homeland Security (2003–2005).

Asa Hutchinson: Early Life and Education

The son of Coral Virginia (Mount) Hutchinson (1912–1998) and John Malcolm Hutchinson Sr., Hutchinson was born in Bentonville, Arkansas (1907–1991). He graduated from Bob Jones University in South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in 1972, and the University of Arkansas School of Law awarded him a J.D. in 1975.

For 21 years, Hutchinson worked as a lawyer in Fort Smith. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to be the U.S. Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas in 1982, making him the youngest U.S. Attorney in the nation at the time.

Early in 2005, Hutchinson established the Hutchinson Group, LLC, a consulting business in Little Rock (Pulaski County), as well as a one-year employment offer from the Venable Law Firm in Washington, DC. Although he insisted that he complied with the law by working with the Department of Homeland Security's legal and ethics team, he attracted criticism for negotiating his contract with Venable while still serving as the Under Secretary for Homeland Security (the firm has many national and international legal specialties, including national security).

Hutchinson left Venable in March 2006 to concentrate on his run for governor of Arkansas. Hutchinson lost to Democrat Mike Beebe after a challenging race in which the national shift in public opinion about Republican leadership in the White House and in Congress played a role. In January 2007, Hutchinson rejoined the Venable Law Firm.

Before establishing the Asa Hutchinson Law Group, PLC, in Rogers (Benton County), Arkansas, in 2008, he split his time working for Venable in Washington, DC, and the Hutchinson Group, LLC, in Little Rock. Hutchinson was selected as the leader of a National Rifle Association (NRA) task force after the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The task force's recommendations, which included arming and training school staff, were released the following year.

Asa Hutchinson and his family on daily affairs. Photo: LivinginArkansas.

Asa Hutchinson: Wife, Children

Who is Asa Hutchinson - The Governor of Arkansas: Biography, Time Life, Career and Family

Governor Asa Hutchinson has been married to Susan since 1973

Asa Hutchinson's Wife Susan

Since 1973, Asa Hutchinson, 73, has been wed to Susan Burrell (was born April 11, 1950).

She has been a lifelong supporter of kids in addition to being Gov. Hutchinson's wife and serving as a teacher on the board of the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County.

Burrell had intended to become a doctor when she was in high school, but she decided against it in order to maintain her friendship with Gov. Hutchinson.

Gov. Hutchinson moved to Fayetteville to pursue a law degree after finishing college, while his future wife took a position as a teacher in Memphis to be close by.

Burrell has contributed to numerous organizations over the years in addition to giving her husband's political career the best possible support.

Asa Hutchinson's Children

The Hutchinsons were married for a total of 48 years, during which time they welcomed four children into the world: Asa III, Seth, Sarah, and John.

Asa III went on to earn his law degree from the University of Arkansas, just like his father had done before him.

He has worked as a prosecutor for the federal government, as an attorney for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and as a civil litigator.

Despite their close relationship, Seth is known for holding opinions that differ from some of his father's in Austin, Texas, where he became a union organizer.

The journey of Asa Hutchinson to become the governor of Arkansas

Timeline in Care

• Asa Hutchinson (Republican Party) was the Governor of Arkansas. He assumed office on January 13, 2015. He left office on January 10, 2023.

• Hutchinson (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Governor of Arkansas. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.

•From 1997 to 2001, Hutchinson represented Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. Congress. He was one of the 13 House managers in President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial (D).

• In addition, he served as the director of the Drug Enforcement Administration from 2001 to 2003 and the undersecretary for border and transportation security for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005.

• Hutchinson announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential primary on April 2, 2023.

In the 2014 election, Hutchinson again ran as a Republican for governor. He defeated former congressman Mike Ross with more than 55% of the vote. His election was part of a larger Republican sweep of the state, according to encyclopediaofarkansas.net, in which the party secured majorities in both houses of the Arkansas General Assembly and all constitutional offices.

Hutchinson received about 65% of the vote in his reelection in 2018. Hutchinson focused on the state's overall economic health and his accomplishments in implementing the computer science education program during that reelection campaign. If given a second term, he also pledged to reorganize the state government extensively and increase teacher pay significantly.

• 2023 - 2024: Running for U.S President

• Governor of Arkansas (2015-2023)

• Hutchinson assumed office as the governor of Arkansas on January 13, 2015.

• Undersecretary, Department of Homeland Security (2003-2005)

• Hutchinson served as the undersecretary for border and transportation security at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005. He was appointed to the position by President George W. Bush (R).

• Director, Drug Enforcement Administration (2001-2003)

• Hutchinson was the director of the Drug Enforcement Administration from 2001 to 2003.

• U.S. House of Representatives (1997-2001)

Trivia

Several current and former state legislators and other state officials were convicted and indicted as a result of a multifaceted corruption scandal that broke during the first Hutchinson term (including Hutchinson's nephew, former state senator Jeremy Hutchinson).

The state's General Improvement Fund, which allots surplus state funds to projects chosen for funding by legislators, ran through a significant portion of the scandal. Hutchinson argued for the program's termination in 2017 after the Arkansas Supreme Court declared the funding method unconstitutional and the scandal grew worse.

Since Trump became the lone former president of the United States to ever face criminal charges, Asa is the first Republican to enter the race. The GOP's willingness to support those who oppose Trump will be put to the test by Hutchinson's candidacy. Others who have criticized Trump, such as the former governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, decided not to run for office because they realized it would be difficult to win a primary.

As for his reasons for running for President, the former Governor said that when he traveled the country for six months, he heard people talk about leadership in the country, and believed that people wanted leaders who were attractive to people. America's best, not just the worst.

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