Posted on 03/02/2005 8:08:34 PM PST by HAL9000
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Former Arkansas congressman and U.S. Homeland Security undersecretary Asa Hutchinson has been named chairman of a private Washington law firm's homeland security practice but will be moving him family to Little Rock.
Hutchinson told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he took the position at Venable LLP in Washington because the firm allowed him to make his primary residence in Little Rock and establish his own consulting firm, Hutchinson Security Strategies, in Arkansas.
"Venable gave me an opportunity to head up their homeland security practice in a way that's consistent with me pursuing personal and business interests in Arkansas and being able to spend some time there," Hutchinson said in a telephone interview. "I'm going to do some house hunting and apartment hunting this weekend, and I hope to open my own office in Little Rock by April 1."
Hutchinson, a Republican, said he wanted to re-establish his presence in Arkansas as he decides whether to run for governor in 2006. Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee cannot seek reelection because of term limits, and Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, another prominent Republican, officially declared his intention to run last week.
Although the campaign hasn't begun, Rockefeller has launched a Web site, www.winrock.com that asks for campaign volunteers.
"I know I need to make a decision in the next few weeks or months," Hutchinson said.
He also said he intends to serve on several corporate boards and go on the national speaking circuit.
There was speculation for the last few months about whether Hutchinson would leave his federal post as undersecretary of border and transportation security to return to Arkansas after he was twice passed over for the department's top job. He announced at the end of January he would resign March 1.
Hutchinson's boss at Homeland Security, outgoing Secretary Tom Ridge, said in a statement that Venable was gaining someone with unmatched knowledge of the issues.
"His dedication to fostering the public-private partnership will be a tremendous asset to the firm's work in this vital area," Ridge said.
Venable is led by former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, who said the firm's homeland security law practice would be bolstered by one of the founding members of the national Homeland Security department.
"America's domestic security apparatus has undergone a complete overhaul since September 11. Asa was not only present at the creation of this vast new security infrastructure, he was one of its chief architects and implementers," Civiletti said in a statement.
Hutchinson, 54, was one of the House prosecutors in the impeachment trial of former President Clinton, a fellow Arkansan. He later led the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency before the Department of Homeland Security was created following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
All the parasites stay and settle in Washington to feed off our tax money.
DC is a (govt) business district!
Everybody not working for the government should be thrown out of DC. IMO
Make them live in Maryland.
Well, if he wants to run for office from Arkansas this is a good move for him.
Nice proofreading AP.
What do you have against Maryland?
Personally, I really don't give much of a damn, I live in Washington State....but the old family farm was in Glyndon Maryland....and it seems kinda against my family values to ship a bunch of leaching politicos into Maryland. Well....more than live there already!
Now that I think of it, my Aunt's dog was named "Democrat". So I suppose I'm not against aggregating all of those weasels in one spot.....and then lecturing them about Alger Hiss's Pumpkin Papers. He was the Communist hero of all the Democrats back in the 50's.
bump
Asa Hutchinson stopped the Homeland Security Dept from picking up illegals in CA. Most of the people who care here in CA likes the guy.
HELLLLLLL NO! I don't want the former head of the DEA to be my Governor...that might make me (gulp) vote Democrap!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.