LINCOLN DAY WILL FEATURE ARKANSAS' MIKE HUCKABEE

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee will be the guest speaker Saturday night at the annual Cape County Republican Lincoln Day, sponsored by the county GOP women's club.

Huckabee won a special election for lieutenant governor in 1993, becoming one of only four Republicans elected to statewide office in Arkansas in 150 years. He is a native of Hope, Ark. the birthplace of President Bill Clinton.

Huckabee has also been a leader in the Baptist Church, and prior to his election last year was serving as the youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

Lincoln Day will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Arena Building, and will also include a special tribute to Sen. John Danforth, who is retiring after 26 years in public office in Missouri.

Carol Sparkman, president of the women's club, said paying tribute to Danforth this year is only natural. Danforth is the father of the modern Republican Party in Missouri, winning statewide office as attorney general in 1968. After two terms as attorney general, Danforth won a Senate seat in 1976 and is retiring after three terms.

"Jack Danforth is an example of the kind of credible public servants that the Missouri Republican Party has offered to the voters of this state now for well over two decades," said Sparkman.

She termed Huckabee, "an Arkansas success story," and said that "we are honored as Republicans to have the man who will rebuild the credibility of Arkansas politicians in our presence Saturday night."

Also expected to attend Lincoln Day will be 8th district U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson and former Gov. John Ashcroft, who is attempting to succeed Danforth in the Senate.

Huckabee, an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1992, is a nationally known speaker, appearing before civic clubs, business organizations and churches. He has traveled to 18 foreign countries.

He is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and serves on the school's board. He also graduated from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Tex.

Huckabee has served as pastor of several Baptist churches, hosts a TV talk show, and is the founder of two television stations. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, USA Today, Newsweek and other national forums.

Ticket information for Lincoln Day is available by calling Sparkman at 334-3653, Venieda Reynolds at 335-8530, and Carolyn King at 334-6492.