Fort Smith Board candidates talk pension, change of government

In a departure from the often times toxic nature of political races in the 21st century, the two candidates vying for an open at-large seat on the Fort Smith Board of Directors engaged in a civil discussion of issues facing the municipality in a candidate forum held at noon Monday (Oct. 13) that could have been mistaken for a conversation between two friends instead of political opponents.

The candidates, former City Director Don Hutchings and Parks and Recreation Commission Sherry Toliver, expressed agreement in many issues but found differences, as well, including on the question of whether the city administrator form of government could be due for a change. Toliver did not come out in full support of changing the form of local governance, but she admitted that "something is missing" in the current government.

"A lot of people are dissatisfied with it. I've heard rumblings that it should be changed, even so much so that some people want to get a petition going (that would put a change in government to a vote) to make that happen. I'm not sure what the alternative could be. That would require some study on my part, but the city mayor, administrator and the director form of government – right now something is lacking, something is missing and that's why I'm running for city director.”

Hutchings took a different approach and said voters last century had already made their voices heard on the form of government Fort Smith should operate under.

"The city administrator form of government is often not perfect, it needs some improvement. But the citizens voted to do this and I think there's a great form of representation of these city directors – three at large and the four ward directors. And then having an elected mayor and having an administrator who is good at the business world. … It could be improved, but I would like to stick with what we have now.”

The two also addressed the issue of the police and fire pension contribution fund, which The City Wire reported last week could go broke as early as 2019 based on projections by the city of Fort Smith's finance department. The problem should have been addressed when city leaders were first made aware of the funding issues, Toliver said.

"The budget is a big issue right now. … We've all read about the police pension funds and how it's going to be no money there in 2019. Twenty years ago or so, whenever the budget was figured, they didn't look at this very closely. In hindsight, we know that something should have been done differently and now we're paying the price. So it's going to have to be looked at quickly," she said, adding that the problem will have to be resolved for not only current retirees but those who will draw from the pensions in later decades.

With work on the 2015 budget already underway, Toliver said it was time to make the pension funding and police pay raises a priority instead of waiting. Hutchings said he was nervous, but would do whatever it takes to ensure money is there to meet obligations even though he recounted years of budget cuts already undergone by city departments during his previous stint on the Board.

"Police and firefighters are nervous right now. And looking at the city budget, we're nervous. Will there be enough money when that day comes? And I know Sherry feels the same way. Whatever it takes. They deserve it, they've got to have it and I believe that it will happen when they get their pension and retirement funds.

Both candidates were asked how they would make controversial decisions that saw citizens nearly evenly split on a given issue. Hutchings said he knows he "won't please everyone," but: ”It's a very strong philosophy of mine to find out what the citizens want and it's majority rules. That's the great Democracy that we have in America. So we have sat down and listened to both sides of many issues and we really are blessed in this community to have so much unity, but everyone once in a while there's contention.”

Toliver had a decidedly different take and said many groups of citizens are left out of the decision making process in Fort Smith.

"We hear from a certain segment of people and whole groups of people are left out. And when they feel not included, they don't come. You have low voter turnout, you have low voter participation in public meetings. That's because the people don't feel like their voices are being heard. And so this is what needs to be corrected, when you study and issue and make an informed decision, then you should be able to stick with you decision no matter if two or three people might disagree with you.”

Hutchings and Toliver are running for the only contested Board seat, at-large position seven which is being vacated by City Director Philip Merry. Early voting begins next week, with the non-partisan general election for the seat taking place Nov. 4.