Five vie for Bentonville mayor’s post

While the Fort Smith and Little Rock mayoral races have drawn a lot of attention, Bentonville is making a pitch for political eyes. The fast-growing hometown of retail giant Walmart offers an interesting look at how transplants and long-time locals may pick their next municipal leader.

On Monday (Sept. 17), former city council member Jim Webb made his candidacy official. He had served on the board in 2014 and 2016, but had to resign after moving out of the ward he represented.

“A lot of people have figured out what we in Bentonville have known for years…that this is a great place to live. As your next mayor, I want to keep our community moving in the right direction so that years from now, when my generation hands the reins over to our children, we are handing over a Bentonville that is still strong and thriving,” Webb said in his announcement speech.

Other candidates for Bentonville mayor include:

• John Skaggs – A retired judge who served on the city council in the 1980’s and 2000’s;
• Charlie Turner – Owner of Charlie’s Barber Shop in Bentonville;
• Stephanie Orman – A city council member since 2014; and
• Terry Shannon– Retired real estate professional and Texas native