3 candidates host event in Bentonville for young voters, want to hear their needs

Three Benton County political candidates hosted a meet-and-greet event for young voters Thursday (May 17) at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in downtown Bentonville, just ahead of next week’s primary election day on Tuesday. Gan Nunnally, R-Bentonville, hosted the event along with Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville, and Sheriff Shawn Holloway, R-Rogers.

Nunnally is running for District 93, which includes central Benton County and the city of Bentonville. This is Nunnally’s first time to run for political office, and in the primary election, he faces incumbent Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville. The winner of the primary will go on to face Gayatri Jane Agnew, D-Bentonville, in the general election in November.

Douglas is in his third term and seeks reelection for District 91, which includes a portion of western Benton County and the cities of Cave Springs, Centerton and Gentry. Douglas is running against Scott Richardson, R-Bentonville. The primary election will determine the winner as there’s not a Democratic challenger.

Holloway is running for reelection for Benton County sheriff and faces Glenn Latham, R-Gentry. The primary election will determine the race as there’s not a Democratic challenger. The two candidates previously ran against each other in 2016, when Lathan ran as an Independent. In 2016, Holloway won with 72% of the vote.

Nunnally said he hosted the event Thursday to make sure the candidates understand what the young voters want and need.

He explained Bentonville has changed and is not the same community as it was when parents knew exactly where their children were before they came home.

The city has grown from 5,000 to 6,000 people when he moved there in the late 1970s to nearly 50,000, and he wants to make sure the candidates stay in touch.

“We’ve got folks moving from all over the world here, all over the U.S. into here, and they bring different values and different ideas,” Nunnally said.

Nunnally said he’s been involved in politics for the past few years and was encouraged to run for office. He filed for office in February and started putting out signs in March. “Every day, it’s gotten more and more intense as we’ve gone on,” Nunnally said.

When asked whether he’s feeling more pressure from the primary election compared to the general election, he explained the primary as the most intense election now. He must win it to get to the next one, and he’s looking forward to Tuesday.

“We get through this process, and every day, ‘I could’ve done this, or I should’ve done this a little better. I could have had the chance or opportunity to talk to some more people,’” he said. “And, glad to get through that anxiety, but I’ve enjoyed this process by getting out and talking to people.”

FACED TOUGH ISSUES
Douglas was positive about the primary election Tuesday.

“I feel like I’ve served my district well,” he said. “I haven’t backed away from the hard issues, the tough issues, but I’ve tried to address problems because we can’t just say no all the time. We have problems we have to address, highway funding being one of them, internet sales tax. Nobody likes taxes, but we have to be fair and equitable to our local businesses and the administration of those taxes.”

He’s also focused on the state’s education system as only 22% of young people earn a four-year degree or higher. And, the state needs to provide more in the way of career and technical education for the other 78%. Arkansas has 25,000 unfilled jobs because the state doesn’t have the skilled employees to fill them.

“Shame on us for allowing that to happen,” Douglas said. “But we have to do that through a partnership of business and education and state involvement there to make sure we’re teaching the skills that business needs to fill those jobs.”

In the event Thursday, Douglas was interested to hear what young voters had to say as he often hears from the older voters. “If I’m wanting to know what young voters think, which they’re the future, and we need to provide for what they need in their profession to be successful in the future.” This was Douglas’ first event like this for young voters.

When asked if he’s seen issues bringing in young voters, he explained that he’s seen problems bringing in any voter as a result of the existing political environment and the voter apathy it has caused. Douglas citied the president’s tweets and the state legislators who have been convicted of abusing their positions.

“Right now the voter turnout looks to be at a 10 to 12 year low this year,” he said. “And that’s sad because everyone wants to complain, but they’ve got to vote. We’ve got to have well qualified candidates, well qualified elected officials in these positions. And if you don’t come out and research the facts and elect well qualified people, we’re going to be in trouble in this state.”

ON A CASE
Holloway wasn’t at the event when it started as he was working a homicide.

Dustin Todd, who is running for justice of the peace for Benton County District 11, attended the event to meet more people. District 11 includes northwest Benton County and the cities of Decatur, Gravette and Sulphur Springs. Todd lives between Decatur and Centerton and is running against Kelli Latham of Gentry. The winner of the primary will face Susie Kuilan, D-Gravette, in the general election in November.

He said he feels good about the election Tuesday. From the feedback he’s received from people, they want someone who’s willing to listen to them and act on what they say. Todd, who is 30, said he’s running on a conservative platform and has a more responsible fiscal approach on topics. This is his first time to run for political office.

He worked for the Bentonville Police Department and as a supervisor at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office before working for Riggs Caterpillar, a construction equipment supplier in north Springdale. He’s worked at Riggs for three years and has been the assistant branch manager for a year.