November Contests Set For Key Municipal Elections In NW Arkansas

Municipal candidate filings drew to a close at noon Friday (Aug. 15) and a large number of candidates have filed to run for positions ranging from city clerk to mayor to city council in cities across Benton and Washington Counties.

Municipal elections across the two counties will take place on the same day as the general election, Nov. 4.

Candidates who filed were required to turn in signatures of 30 registered voters in their respective wards or cities, depending on the office which they were seeking.

Filing for offices began July 25 and were open for three weeks.

BENTONVILLE
In the race for mayor, incumbent Bob McCaslin was the only candidate to seek another four year term. The same was true of City Clerk Linda Spence, who will be re-elected without opposition to another four years. Also running unopposed for re-election is City Attorney George Spence.

Ward 1, Position 1 saw Stephanie Orman, Jon Cavness and Michael Williams file for the position, while Ward 1, Position 2 saw John Skaggs and Chad Yoes file for the office.

In Ward 2, Tim Robinson is challenging incumbent Alderman Roger Thomas for Position 1 while Shane Miller has filed to challenge Alderman Chris Sooter for Position 2.

Ward 3, Position 1 is a matchup between Alderman James Smith and Craig Soos. For Ward 3, Position 2, Alderman Bill Burckart is facing a three way race following Kristy Reed and Bryan Bennett’s decision to run for the office.

Octavio Sanchez and Burton Head are vying for Ward 4, Position 1 while Alderman Jim Grider is facing a three way race for Ward 4, Position 2 against Jim Webb and Anthony Giabattari. All city council terms are two year terms.

FAYETTEVILLE
City Attorney Kit Williams is running unopposed for another term as Fayetteville’s top attorney.

On the city council, all Position 1 posts are up for re-election this year.

In Ward 1, Alderman Adella Gray is facing a race against Sonia David Gutierrez and Paul Phaneuf while in Ward 2, another three way race has pitted Vice Mayor/Alderman Mark Kinion against Joshua Crawford and Robert Patton.

Ward 3 Alderman Justin Tennant is running unopposed for another term on the council.

Ward 4 is the most crowded of any position on the ballot in Northwest Arkansas in November with seven candidates battling for the position which could result in a runoff election after Nov. 4 should no candidate receive more than 50% of the vote. Alderman Rhonda Adams declined to run for re-election this year.

Running for the Ward 4 position are Phillip McKight, Ray Boudreaux, Craig Honchell, D’Andre Jones, John LaTour, Michael Collins and Robert Williams.

ROGERS
The Position 1 city council seats are up for re-election in Rogers and Aldermen Buddy Wright and Gary Townzen will win re-election unopposed in Ward 1 and Ward 2, respectively.

In Ward 3, Aldermann W. Clay Kendall will face Keith Jackson while in Ward 4, the seat is open and facing a four-way race between Antonio Christopher Covington, Carlos Chicas, Carrie Perrien Smith and Sam Jeffery.

No one filed for the position of city treasurer. As a result, the Rogers City Council will be required by state law to declare a vacancy in the position on Jan. 1, 2015, and must appoint an individual to fill the position.

SPRINGDALE
In the city of Springdale, only two of the city’s five positions up for re-election this year have challengers.

The positions are Ward 1, Position 1 on the city council, where Jim Reed and Bob Caudle are challenging each other for the open position.

Ward 3, Position 1 will see Councilman Bradley Bruns and Rick Culver battle for a four year term, as well.

Mike Overton and Mike Lawson, who hold the Position 1 seats in Wards 2 and 4 did not face opponents in their bids for the council. The same is true of Ernest Cate, who will be elected city attorney unopposed on Nov. 4.

Other cities and positions of note in Benton and Washington Counties include:

BELLA VISTA
Mayor – James “Jim” Wozniak, Peter Christie, Linda Lloyd, and Jim Parsons;
City Clerk – Wayne Jertson;
Alderman Ward 1, Position 2 – Tom Candela, John Flynn, Ashley Linden, Dane Zimmerman, and Jason Frederick;
Alderman Ward 2, Position 2 – Frank Anderson and Rick Neal;
Alderman Ward 3, Position 2 – Rory Crivello, Alderman Larry Wilson, and Philip Bardasian;

JOHNSON
Mayor – Chris Kenney and Mayor Buddy Curry;
Alderman Ward 1, Position 1 – Bill Burnett;
Alderman Ward 1, Position 2 – Daniel Cross;
Alderman Ward 2, Position 1 – Bob Fant;
Alderman Ward 2, Position 2 – Melissa Posinski;
Alderman Ward 3, Position 1 – Richard McMullen;
Alderman Ward 3, Position 2 – Hunter Haynes and Henry Layes;

LOWELL
Mayor – Eldon Long, Phil Biggers, Eric Schein;
City Clerk – Liz Estes;
Alderman Ward 1, Position 2 – Lonnie Jones, Janette Lasater, and Alan Harris;
Alderman Ward 2, Position 2 – Peter Daniels and Connor Jones;
Alderman Ward 3, Position 2 – Alderman Kendell Stucki;
Alderman Ward 4, Position 2 – Alderman Ronnie Breland and David Adams; and
City Attorney – No filed candidates.

For a rundown of municipal match-ups in the Fort Smith region, click here.