Van Buren Mayor seeks second term; cites RITA as big win

story by Marla Cantrell
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Van Buren’s mayor, Bob Freeman, has yet to raise one cent for his bid for reelection.

“I’ve been too busy running the city to focus on raising money,” Freeman explained.

Right now, Freeman’s only competition is newcomer Max Blake, a safety supervisor for his family’s commercial construction business, who has already raised $3,000.

Blake believes one of the city’s biggest problems is the slow-moving wheel of progress, specifically two unfinished projects: the widening of Rena Road and the construction of the new library.

Freeman addressed the Rena Road project, which was originally a five-lane expansion. Voters turned down the additional funding needed to complete the project two years before Freeman’s term began. The plan was whittled down to three lanes. The city is finishing up appraisals for right-of-way acquisitions.

“It’s a slow process,” Freeman said. “Primary funding for the $6 million project can’t all come from Van Buren. We don’t have it. You have to get that through federal funding through the Highway Bill. That’s not a one-year project. It comes in federal installments. That funding goes to the state highway department, and standards and requirements from both agencies apply.”

As for the library, Freeman said it can’t be compared to any other project. The $3.4 million building at 15th and Main was 85% complete when a construction fire stopped work in September, 2008. The builder filed for bankruptcy leaving subcontractors unpaid. Legal wrangling began between the city and the two insurance companies tied to the project. Library construction began again July 6.

“Yes, it took a long time to get the library situation resolved,” Freeman said. “But the alternative was maybe even longer. There is part of you who wants to just move ahead, get the contractor on the job and fight it out in court. But that ramming speed is not the logical way. The court battle could last indefinitely.”

Freeman, 54, believes his strengths are his background, both as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, and as vice president of a local bank. He has also worked closely with the regional effort to bring economic growth to the area. In fact, his association with the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority is what he sees as his biggest win while in office.

While his opponent believes the region is important, Blake also said bringing companies to Van Buren should be an even higher priority.

“We have to think regionally,” Freeman countered.  “Companies are looking at work force, and if they look at Chaffee Crossing, they’re looking at employees who also live here. They’re looking at all our schools, from Alma, to Greenwood, to Cedarville. We all have a vested interested to provide an educated work force. Yes, Mitsubishi is going in at Chaffee Crossing. Oxane chose us. The Fort Smith Chamber called my office and told me they were here and the Fort Smith location was falling through, and we jumped through hoops to get information for them. We met them at the location in Industrial Park and sold them on us. They’ll hire folks from other parts of the area as well. That bridge travels both ways.”

Freeman cites his management of the city during “the worst economic times since the Great Depression” as proof he can secure a bright future for the residents of Van Buren.

“We haven’t slipped and we’re the lowest taxed community in this area,” Freeman said.  “We do not have unlimited resources – we have an $11 million budget this year — and I manage that on a weekly basis.”

Freeman, who beat out four other candidates in 2006, thinks there is more he can do.

“I have spent my life in either service to my country, or service to my community,” Freeman said. “It’s instilled in me and I want to continue to lead.”