Fort Smith Board does not place change-of-government question on the ballot

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (May 19) did not approve two measures that would have placed a change-of-government question on the ballot, leaving, for now, such a ballot item in the hands of a group of signature-gathering citizens.

The citizens are collecting signatures that would seek a vote on the city’s form of government. The petitioners, who say they have more than 2,000 signatures, want the city to have a mayor-council form of government rather than the council-manager form now in place.

In Fort Smith’s form of government, the city administrator is the CEO, managing an annual budget of more than $300 million and more than 1,000 city employees who provide safety, sanitation, water, sewer, and other key services to a city with a population of about 90,000. The city administrator is hired by the board of directors and can be fired at any time by the board.

Changing to a mayor-council form of government would place management responsibility with the mayor. Most large cities in Arkansas with a mayor-council government have at least one experienced city manager supporting the mayor in day-to-day operations. The mayor-council form of government would also include elections for city clerk, city attorney, and city treasurer, according to state law.

If voters approve a change of government in November 2026 or in 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 voters for four years. (Link here for more information about the change of government.)

During a May 12 board study session, Director Jarred Rego called for an ordinance placing the question on the November 2027 general election ballot. Director Christina Catsavis called for an ordinance placing the question on the November 2026 general election ballot.

Tuesday’s discussion involved more than hour of sometimes testy exchanges between the board members and between the board members and the audience. Rego, who has said he supports a change in government, said he has yet to hear a “compelling logistical reason” to vote on the measure two years before people can be elected for positions in a different government.

Catsavis alleged that pushing the vote to 2027 is an effort to “kill the momentum that is building” to change the form of government. She also said there will be a higher voter turnout in the 2026 midterm election than in the 2027 off-year election.

Director Lee Kemp said he has not seen a “compelling case” to change the city’s form of government and believed board action to set a vote would “take away” the efforts of those engaged in signature gathering. He also said “changing the form of government will not save money.”

Director Neal Martin made a plea to the board members to vote for placing the question on the 2026 ballot, saying a 2026 vote would give the city and its citizens two years to prepare for the change.

Director Kevin Settle said anyone now running for mayor should abstain from voting because they would have an advantage running for mayor in 2028 if a government change is approved by voters. Catsavis and Kemp have announced they are running for mayor — in the existing form of government — in November 2026. Mayor George McGill is not seeking reelection.

After a short recess, Directors Christina Catsavis, George Catsavis, and Martin voted to place the question on the 2026 ballot. Directors André Good, Kemp, and Rego voted against it. Settle abstained, leaving the measure short of the four votes needed to pass.

Rego did not receive a second to his motion calling for a November 2027 vote on the form-of-government question.