Settle to seek another term on Fort Smith board
by May 12, 2010 11:33 am 71 views
Fort Smith City Director Kevin Settle announced Wednesday (May 12) that he will seek a second four-year term on the board responsible for a city of more than 80,000.
Settle said he wanted to continue serving on a board for a city “on the verge of reinventing itself.”
There is the potential for many new faces on the city board in 2011. Of the seven-member board of directors, there will be at least three new members. If Settle loses the Position 6 (at-large) seat, the board will have four new faces.
Fort Smith City Directors Gary Campbell (Position 5, at-large) and Cole Goodman (Position 7, at-large) are not seeking re-election. Campbell is running in the GOP primary for the Arkansas House of Representatives District 64 seat. Also, City Director Bill Maddox, who was in the middle of a four-year term, has resigned from his Position 4 director seat. (He was reappointed by the board to serve until a new director is elected in November.) Patrick Jacobs announced May 5 he will run for the Position 4 seat.
Philip Merry announced April 15 he would seek the Position 7 (at-large) being vacated by Goodman.
Also, Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker is being challenged by Sandy Sanders.
Following is the full press release from Settle.
FORT SMITH, AR (May 12, 2010) – Longtime Fort Smith Resident and current at-large
position 6 City Director Kevin Settle has announced that he will run for a second term as
City Director.
Director Settle expressed personal satisfaction about his role as city director. Some of
the highlights of his first term include: making city board meetings more accessible to
the general public through televising board meetings; residential, industrial, and I-49
growth in Chaffee Crossing; continued wet weather, drainage, and street improvements;
new job recruitment and existing job retention; sewer and water plant treatment
expansions; and the progress the City has made in developing regional economic
relationships. Settle was also a leader in establishing and attending neighborhood
problem solving meetings and prompted the historic first joint meeting between City and
County boards.
“All of these factors combine to make Fort Smith attractive to families, businesses and
visitors as we grow into the 21st century. It has been exciting to serve as a Director
during a period when Fort Smith is on the verge of reinventing itself. Going forward, I
would like to continue the work that has been started over the past three years. Because I have only missed one City Board meeting during my first term, I feel I am
very well informed about the needs and vision the people of Fort Smith have for their
city. I want to continue to provide experienced leadership as a City Director and build on
this foundation so we will be prepared for growth and development in the future,” stated
Director Settle.
Settle is actively involved in community civic groups. He serves as a board member of
both the Sebastian County Regional Solid Waste Management District and Western
Arkansas Planning and Development District. He is a current member of Kiwanis Club
and the Fort Smith Jaycees, is a Boys & Girls Club Alumni and a past member of Young
Emerging Leaders (YEL). He was also a 2009 recipient of the Mayor’s Patriot Award
and a 2010 recipient of the Mayor’s Perfect Harmony Award.
Director Settle, his wife, Terri, and their two daughters are lifelong residents of Fort
Smith. He is a 1992 graduate of Southside High School, a 1994 graduate of Westark
Community College and a 1996 graduate of the University of Arkansas Fayetteville, with
a B.S. Chemical Engineering Degree. Currently, Settle is employed as the Engineering
Manager for Exide Technologies and has earned his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Certification.
Members of Settle’s re-election campaign advisory committee include Father Jeffrey
Champlin, Cecil Greene, Kevin Clay, Lisa Clay, Loren Janes, Chad Jones, Michael
Morton, Carolyn Plank, and Lorie Robertson.