GENTRY — Numerous U.S. Senate candidates have already announced for Arkansas’ 2010 U.S. Senate race.

Among the candidates are two Democrats.

• Blanche Lincoln of Little Rock, who, at 38, became the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998, is seeking a third six-year term; and was recently named chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

• Drew Pritt of Little Rock was an unsuccessful candidate for Arkansas lieutenant governor in 2006.

Among the candidates is one from the state Green Party.

• John Gray of Greenland, mayor of that city, worked with the Atomic Energy Commission and later became an antinuclear activist; worked with auto manufacturers to set up plants in Mexico; and now supports U.S. withdrawal from both the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.

Among the candidates is one independent.

• Trevor Drown of Russellville is a former Green Beret who addressed TEA Party rallies in Russellville on April 15 and July 25, 2009.

And among the candidates are eight Republicans.

• Gilbert Baker of Conway is a longtime state senator.

• Curtis Coleman of Little Rock is chief executive officer of SafeFoods Corp., a pathogen-control food-safety company, and served as manager of Mike Huckabee’s successful 1992 campaign for the U.S. Senate.

• Tom Cox of North Little Rock, the owner of Aloha Pontoons, is a founder of the Arkansas Tea Party movement.

• Kim Hendren of Gravette, a longtime state senator and businessman, founded Hendren Plastics and Benton County Realty, and has numerous business interests.

• James McNair of Heber Springs is an ophthalmologist.

• Fred Ramey, of Searcy, is a co-owner of Ramey & Co. Investments, a real-estate investment company.

• Conrad Reynolds of Conway is a retired U.S. Army colonel, owns and operates a consulting business and is an independent contractor with the Department of Defense.

• Buddy Rogers of Rogers is a financial adviser who served 21 years of active duty in the U.S. Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel; taught everything from high school to graduate school; and trained thousands of executives.

News, Pages 6 on 11/04/2009