Change-of-government ballot vote could again come before the Fort Smith Board

The push to have the Fort Smith Board of Directors place a change-of-government question on the November 2026 general election ballot may not be dead despite the failure of two measures Tuesday night (May 19) following a sometimes testy and tense regular board meeting.

A group of citizens are collecting signatures that would seek a vote on the city’s form of government. The petitioners, who say they have around 2,000 signatures, want the city to have a mayor-council form of government rather than the council-manager form now in place. The group will have to submit 2,608 valid voter signatures by late July or early August, verified by Fort Smith City Clerk Sherri Gard, for the item to be placed on the November ballot.

If voters approve a change of government in November 2026 or November 2027, elections for the new government would be held in November 2028. If voters reject a change of government, state law prevents the question from returning to the ballot for four years.

On Tuesday, Directors Christina Catsavis, George Catsavis, and Neal Martin voted to place the question on the 2026 ballot. Directors André Good, Lee Kemp, and Jarred Rego voted against it. Director Kevin Settle abstained, leaving the measure short of the four votes needed to pass.

Rego, who supports a change of government to the mayor-council system, did not receive a second to his motion calling for a November 2027 vote on the form-of-government question.

Director Christina Catsavis told Talk Business & Politics on Wednesday that she plans to “revisit this issue” with the board if and when the city receives an opinion from the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office on questions sought by Director Settle.

“I feel very strongly that we must continue moving forward on this issue without unnecessary delay,” Catsavis said. “There is clearly deep and widespread support across the community for this initiative. The citizen-led petition effort has already gathered thousands of signatures and continues to grow, demonstrating a significant level of public engagement and interest in this issue.”

Catsavis, who is running for Fort Smith mayor in 2026, reiterated her belief that the mid-term election in November 2026 is preferable to the off-cycle November 2027 schedule.

“For a decision of this magnitude, the community deserves the broadest possible participation and confidence in the outcome,” Catsavis said. “When thousands of residents take the time to petition their government for a vote, we have a responsibility to ensure that vote occurs under conditions that maximize participation and reinforce trust in the result.”

No matter who wins the 2026 election for mayor, a change in the form of government approved in 2026 or 2027 would require another mayoral election. Kemp also is running for mayor in 2026. Fort Smith Mayor George McGill, who is completing his second, four-year term, is not seeking relection.

Rego told Talk Business & Politics he was “not sure” if he would seek another board vote on the issue, and also was not sure if any director would again seek a vote to place the question on a 2026 or 2027 ballot.