BENTON COUNTY — There seems to be no end to the surprises the political season has in store for Benton County this year. And, with some of the potential candidates moves, those surprises could continue past the primary elections in May. So, if you are a registered voter in the county, keep your options open because there is definitely more to come.

The 3rd Congressional District seat being vacated by Representative John Boozman has brought some real possibilities to our musical chairs scenario. If the current mayor of Rogers should win the primary, the position of Rogers mayor should be available when the filing period opens for city elections later in the year. And, if State Senator Cecile Bledsoe wins the primary and be elected in the November General Election, her state seat would have to be filled after she goes to Washington. Those are just two of the more obvious changes that could come about if everyone who has made an announcement of their intentions follows through by filing. It is still early in the campaign season and as we have seen in the U.

S. Senate race, Congressman Boozman’s decision to run for the position in the primary has led to some of the early contestants dropping out.

A recent report in the daily newspaper said a sitting Justice of the Peace has formed an exploratory committee for the purpose of determining support for seeking the position of Benton County Judge. As a five-term J. P., Bob Stephenson (R-Siloam Springs) would bring experience to the chief executive officer’s position, and if he files as a candidate would leave an opening for his position on the Quorum Court. So, the news, potential news, low-level political drama continues

As we usually find in the county, there seems to be too few Democratic Party candidates making the news through announcements of their candidacy.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be individuals running as Democrats, but they aren’t getting the publicity at this early date.

A lot of candidates in a primary does get attention for the “party.”

It has been a long time since we had this much political excitement in Benton County and we are still a couple of weeks away from opening day for filing. And, as we have seen many times before, the final hour of filing can bring even more surprises either by new filings or some expected filings not materializing. Several times in the last few elections incumbents have not indicated their intentions to refrain from the campaign and a new face has filed on the final day and subsequently run without opposition in the primary. There is nothing illegal involved, but it does provide an avenue for transition in an office without opposition, when the knowledge that the incumbent was not running might have brought more candidates into the race.

It continues to concern me that we have so much activity in the Republican Party and so little countering excitement in the Democratic Party. Unlessit is our personal desire to make our choice from a single party philosophy, we need more major party choices in November. I realize many people vote in the primary of the “other” party regardless of their actual party choice, but with primaries over five months ahead of the General Election a lot of conditions can change one’s mind.

When one considers primary elections, it is interesting that each state determines its own dates for primaries. According to www.Politics1.com, Illinois has the earliest regular primary with a Feb. 2, 2010, date and Texas follows a month later on March 2. I have always felt Arkansas was too early with its party primaries and made the period after the primary too long. Campaigning seems to me to be most effective in the last two or three months before the General Election in November. Our “party” primary election is May 18. Twelve states have August primaries, and nine states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) have their primaries on Sept. 14, 2010.

From the closing of our filing period of March 8through the actual primary election on May 18, the candidates have slightly over two months to convince the voters they are the best choice to represent their political party. Minor party candidates and independent candidates are not obligated to get involved in the hectic pace of conducting a primary campaign.

They get to save their money and energy for the General Election.

The background serenade for the Republican Party of Benton County’s musical chairs will actually start March 1, and the chairs will all be filled at the end of the day on May 8. That will be the point at which we can start to make our choices in each race without having to wonder if our candidate will be shying away from inflated filing fees. Those who are aware of the high price of political publicity will have paid their money and will be on their way to victory or disappointment.

Leo Lynch, a native of Benton County has deep roots in northwest Arkansas. A retired industrial engineer and former Justice of the Peace he believes all government should be servantsof, and accountable to, the people. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 02/17/2010