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Coon said that the Rockefeller and Bumpers administrations had succeeded because of their "lack of attachment to and connections with the ongoing political power structure in our state." Coon said that Arkansas was "an emerging state in the New South. We still have a long way to go. The work started in the last eight years is not complete …  the job is not yet finished." He vowed if elected to focus upon (1) education), (2) constitutional revision, and (3) electoral reform.<ref>Ken Coon gubernatorial announcement statement, 1974.</ref>

Coon said that the Rockefeller and Bumpers administrations had succeeded because of their "lack of attachment to and connections with the ongoing political power structure in our state." Coon said that Arkansas was "an emerging state in the New South. We still have a long way to go. The work started in the last eight years is not complete …  the job is not yet finished." He vowed if elected to focus upon (1) education), (2) constitutional revision, and (3) electoral reform.<ref>Ken Coon gubernatorial announcement statement, 1974.</ref>

Coon's gubernatorial opponent was former [[U.S. Representative]] David Hampton Pryor, originally from Camden in Ouachita County in southern Arkansas. Two years earlier, Pryor had lost the Democratic senatorial primary to the more [[conservative]] incumbent, [[John McClellan]], also of Camden. Pryor emerged as a powerful candidate for governor after he defeated both Bob Riley and former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]] in the Democratic primary.<ref>http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=118]</ref> Pryor repeatedly refused to debate Coon.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette'' November 2, 1974.</ref>

Coon's gubernatorial opponent was former [[U.S. Representative]] David Hampton Pryor, originally from Camden in Ouachita County in southern Arkansas. Two years earlier, Pryor had lost the Democratic senatorial primary to the more [[conservative]] incumbent, [[John McClellan]], also of Camden. Pryor emerged as a powerful candidate for governor after he defeated both Bob Riley and former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]] in the Democratic primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/david-hampton-pryor-118/|title=Pryor, David Hampston|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=October 26, 2019}}</ref> Pryor repeatedly refused to debate Coon.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 2, 1974.</ref>

While running for governor, Coon was enrolled in a [[Master of Arts]] program in career counseling at the in Conway. He recalled that his wife often sat in on the classes with a tape recorder while he was away campaigning.

While running for governor, Coon was enrolled in a [[Master of Arts]] program in career counseling at the in Conway. He recalled that his wife often sat in on the classes with a tape recorder while he was away campaigning.