Forty Under 40: Joe Hurst

Joe Hurst has been interested in public service since high school. The Van Buren native was involved in the George W. Bush presidential campaign in 2000, was an intern for U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson in Washington, D.C., and worked for Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Arkansas governor’s office.

He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ouachita Baptist University in 2002 and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arkansas in 2005. He was assistant city planner for Rogers for two years, and in 2007, he became the first city planner for El Dorado. In January 2010, was named the first city planner for Van Buren.

Shortly after he was elected mayor of Van Buren with 61.3% of the vote in November 2018, a tornado struck the city of nearly 24,000 people. In May, the Arkansas River rose to record levels. He explained the natural disasters aren’t something one plans but are something to be dealt with, noting the response to both.

“As the mayor, I can tell the community they should be very impressed with the response that our city had and our county had and just how we worked together with the state and all the various departments,” Hurst said. “It was really an amazing effort.”

The city has worked with the federal government on efforts to rebuild after the flood. Part of the discussion involves rebuilding a baseball and softball complex, which could become a part of a broader debate to extend a half-cent sales tax. He expects a vote on the tax in early 2020.

Hurst serves on the board of trustees of the Arkansas Public Employee’s Retirement System. He spends his free time jogging, playing golf and coaching youth basketball and baseball teams.