Possible changes emerge in Fort Smith city races

Arkansas’ legislative and constitutional office contests have nabbed the headlines as of late, but in Fort Smith headline-grabbing races are likely the races to be the races for the three at-large seats on the Fort Smith Board of Directors.

According to a preliminary schedule, filing for municipal offices begins May 14 and ends May 29. The city’s primary election, if needed, is scheduled for Aug. 12, 2014. Terms for the three at-large directors and Mayor Sandy Sanders expire Dec. 31, 2014.

One of the incumbents, Philip Merry, recently told The City Wire he had explored various moves in his political career moving forward, including branching out from his service on the Board.

"I've been approached (to run for state representative). I really have. And I was thinking about it, I've been approached and approached from (multiple political groups)," he said.

But the opportunity, at this point, to run for the seat held by term limited Rep. Stephanie Malone, R-Fort Smith, doesn't seem to be a likely option due to obligations associated with his career in the insurance industry.

"I'm an insurance guy by trade. I'm not independently wealthy where I can just skip rocks so I can just do politics as a (hobby). I still work. And I still have a kid in medical school,” he said.

Due to the commitments he still has with his job, Merry said he would instead explore options that would allow him to serve the citizens of Fort Smith at home instead of in Little Rock. But does that mean he will be running for re-election or seeking an opportunity on the Fort Smith School Board or the Sebastian County Quorum Court? The positions are the only other likely elective opportunities that would allow him to remain in the Fort Smith region on a full-time basis.

"I'm assessing my options and my schedule. It takes a lot of time," he said. "(In Fort Smith) we're like within inches away of greatness. Will we embrace the change? That's what I keep hoping and praying for. Will this town see it, feel it, be willing to invest in it, and not just tolerate change, but be willing to shape it, because when the river hits, when the U.S. Marshal's (Museum) hits, that downtown – boom. When the water park, Chaffee ballfields, and I-49 hits on that side – boom. When you get 12 feet instead of nine feet on the river and you can double your cargo load on the shipping that goes on the Mississippi that goes down to New Orleans and all the manufacturing that goes on, there's people here that are (ready) for that river to go to 12 feet.”

Even though Merry appears interested in running for re-election, it may not come without a challenge as former City Director Don Hutchings, who has said he is contemplating a return to the Board he left not even a year ago.

Hutchings, who was replaced on the Board by Director Mike Lorenz, said he initially chose not to seek re-election due to mounting commitments associated with an $8 million building project at the church he pastors, Evangel Temple. But now that more funding commitments appear to be in place for the new addition, the long-time pastor, who has been seen observing Board meetings from the audience during the last several months, says he may be ready to jump back into the political arena.

"I am not sure if we'll do this. I am praying for direction to see if it is God's will and if there is a willingness on people to have me back on the Board. I thoroughly enjoyed serving and actually miss it. I don't have a plan on which one of the three open at-large seats to run for, but I've got plenty of time to decide that."

Besides Merry, the other two individuals holding at-large positions who will be up for re-election include Director Pam Weber and Vice Mayor Kevin Settle. Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders will also face re-election in 2014.

Hutchings said he was friends with all three potential of his potential political foes, which makes his decision about whether to run even more difficult.

Should he jump into the race, potentially against Merry or one of the other two at-large directors, job creation, economic development and the completion of I-49 are among the projects he said would be top priorities when speaking with voters.

"Jobs is, by far, number one. Developing the river front is huge. Whirlpool is massive. I've always been a big proponent of I-49. We went to DC with some of the city directors and got some funding for I-49, but we need to ramp that up. And several other issues. There are so many people that are stressed right now about the economy and we got to help lower the sanitation rate, which was huge, in my opinion. Taking that down $1.10 a month doesn't seem like a lot to some people, but it's like a million to others. I would like to do more of that. There are other areas were we can focus on giving some relief to citizens who are struggling and it's not just a financial issue, it becomes anxiety, worry and stress and then they don't produce as much as they know they could."

Hutchings said he is not sure when he will make his decision on whether or not to seek a Director position again. Merry said he, too, was unsure when he would make a decision.