(CNN) – An Arkansas congressional candidate who served in the Army for 29 years says voters know him simply as "Colonel." So when he wasn't able to run using his military title on the ballot, he decided to legally change his name.
Conrad Reynolds is now Colonel Conrad Reynolds, and his name will be listed that way on the ballot for the 2nd Congressional District GOP primary in May.
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Reynolds' military title wasn't permitted on the ballot because Arkansas state law doesn't allow professional or honorary titles to be used as nicknames.
Reynolds retired from the Army in 2009 after serving "everywhere," including Iraq and Afghanistan, as a military intelligence officer. Reynolds is running on a platform that advocates gun ownership rights, limited government, lowering taxes and anti-abortion policies. And he says he'd never turn his back on a veteran.
Following a failed bid for the state Senate in 2010, Reynolds is now one of three Republicans running for the U.S. House seat, and the candidate told CNN this isn't his first name change.
Reynolds started going by "Conrad" when he was a child because his given name, Conald, was always shortened to "Connie," a nickname he says was typically given to women.
Reynolds chose the name Conrad after one of his favorite actors, Robert Conrad, who's known for his role in the television series, "The Wild Wild West."
Call yourself anything you want.. Its the votes at the booth that count and if you have a poor record, "colonel" wont help a bit....
So, when he gets to congress he will change his name to "Commander"?
For every law, there is a work around.
That may backfire for him. There is a majority of people in this country who dont know how to pronounce "colonel". They arent going to know who this Col-in-el guy is.
Should have played a game and told the story and then had people guess what state it was as today's trivia question. Just watch the red state guesses pile up....
And the winner is....*pause for dramatic effect"....nobody.....nobody wins when idiots like this guy take office.
Good luck to you sir, we appreciate your service.
Should have stuck with "Connie"
Now that he's a civilian , why not change his name to Full Bird Colonel Conrad Reynolds ?
"gun ownership rights, limited government, lowering taxes and anti-abortion policies"
A guy could have a good time in Vegas with all that !
Good for him. I am pro-vet so I think it's a good thing.
i hope he dont turn into an colonel Allan West, and criticize this president like a animal on rabies. these repubs say that the president is the one that allow other countries to not take us serious. but what country would take us serious, if they know that their is nothing this president can do, because of the repubs rabid oppositions knows no bound. the president is not the one making this country looks weak, its the repubs vow to oppose this president on every turn foreign and domestic, even if they throw us down the toilet, just because they cannot stop kissing up to the tea partiers who hates this president without logic. were'nt these same repubs were the same ones praising Putin, the other day.
Sir yes sir...you will fit in perfectly in Arkansas
Let me assure you he is NOT for lower taxes or smaller government. He is for hugely expensive helplessly wasteful war spending.
What a vain character this guy is. I hope he puts as much thought into what's good for the country as he does about his name tag, but judging by his platform it's more of the same extremist crap. Not surprising from someone who seems to be studying from Stalin's playbook, I suppose.
Lol @O'drama- you're right about that!
Why didn't he just go with "Hawk Reynolds" if that's who he is? It's definitely his chosen image.
Some will be duped into voting for him. The one's that don't will be ridiculed by his minions. My admiration goes to th eone's that don't.
What's wrong with 'Conald'? Lyndsey Graham did all right...well, whatever.
Kind of a sneaky way to get his military title on the ballot, IMHO.
HILARIOUS watching Guns Over People tea potty wingnuts walk the plank toward another November. They are desperate in March.
Sniffit, just like NONE OF THE ABOVE would have been good.
The gop seems to have a knack at changing, dodging rules they don't like, yup Christies a Republican all right.