Four file for Fort Smith positions on first day of filing (Updated)

The first day of filing (May 12) for municipal elected offices in Fort Smith saw four formally step into the fray.

City board positions 5, 6 and 7 (all at large seats), and the mayoral post are up for re-election in 2010. The 1-4 positions are up for re-election in 2012. However, the recent resignation of Position 4 Director Bill Maddox creates a election cycle where five of the eight-member board (seven directors plus the mayor) seats are up for grabs.

Also, City Directors Gary Campbell (Position 5) and Cole Goodman (Position 7) are not seeking re-election. Campbell is running in the GOP primary for the Arkansas House of Representatives District 64 seat.

Fort Smith businessman Sandy Sanders was the first to file, and is hoping to unseat Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker. Sanders first announced for the post Sept. 15, saying he believes the next mayor should have more business and economic development experience.

Baker announced Sept. 24 he would seek re-election to a sixth, four-year term. Baker said it is “ridiculous” to think that a mayor should have an economic development or business background.

Eric Arthur and City Director Kevin Settle filed Wednesday for the Position 6 seat. Settle, who issued an announcement Wednesday, is serving his first term in the seat, and Arthur is making his second attempt at a board seat.

Marshall Sharpe, manager of audit programs at Fort Smith-based OK Industries, filed for the position 4 seat. Sharpe may have an opponent. Patrick Jacobs announced May 5 he will run for the Position 4 seat.

Updated info: Sharpe is a graduate of Northside High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife conservation management from  Louisiana Tech University.

“I was born in a great city,” Sharpe said in a statement. “The Mayor’s first Neighborhood Conference sparked my initial interest in community involvement. Since then, I have found and have been learning the ins and outs of city government. General public needs to be prodded to communicate more and to access government programs and websites available to them to better understand and improve situations that they deal with on an every-day basis.”

Sharpe organized in 2004 and still coordinates the Lakewood Neighborhood Association. He is a 2006 graduate of the Citizen’s Police Academy and a current member of the CPA Alumni Association, secretary/treasurer of the Fort Smith Neighborhood Coalition, Old Fort Homeless Coalition, and a previous member of the Fort Smith Homelessness Task Force.

He and his wife of 33 years, Carol, have two children and four grandchildren.
Sharpe served in the Air Force from 1977-1981, and is a deacon of the Southside Baptist Church.

Philip Merry announced April 15 he would seek the Position 7 being vacated by Goodman.

To file for a city office, a candidate must pay a $10 filing fee, complete a statement of candidacy form, and provide a petition with at least 50 valid signatures of Fort Smith citizens. Also, a statement of financial interest is required but is not due until 30 days after filing deadline. The filing period ends at Noon, June 1. Candidate information and forms are available in the Fort Smith City Clerk’s office.