AVOCA — Editor’s Note: Jordan Sullivan and Jeannie D. Varnell are candidates for Position 5 on Avoca City Council. Incumbent Herb Hawkins did not seek reelection.

Early voting begins Oct. 18. The general election is Nov. 2.

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Avoca City Council Position 5

Jordan Sullivan

Age: 53

Employment: Benton County Water District No. 1

Education: High school

Residency: Avoca, 13 years

Family: Wife, Teresa, one daughter

Military experience: None

Political experience: None

What do you think would be the biggest challenge for the city during your term, and how would you address it? I see no major challenges for this town.

Why do you think you’re the best person for the position? I am not necessarily the best person for the job, but those that are qualified are not interested in running.

Jeannie D. Varnell

Age: 36

Employment: Arvest Mortgage Company

Education: High school

Residency: Avoca, seven years

Family: Husband, Billy, two daughters, baby on the way

Military experience: None

Political experience: About two years as a member of Avoca’s Board of Zoning Adjustment prior to the development of the Planning Commission.

What do you think would be the biggest challenge for the city during your term, and how would you address it? In recent years the town has adopted a zoning ordinance and has since developed a Planning Commission.

As the town experiences growth, I believe that it will be a challenge to keep citizens informed as to the requirements outlined in the zoning ordinance.

I believe that this could be addressed by ensuring that all current citizens have information regarding the ordinance, aswell as making sure that they know where they can access the ordinance in either a written or electronic format. Also, I believe that it is necessary to reach out to new residents as they move into the town in an effort to provide this same information as well as other pertinent information about the town.

Why do you think you’re the best person for the position? I plan to raise my children in this town. We play in the town park, we take walks in the neighborhoods, we attend as many city functions as we can. We have lived here since before the birth of our oldest daughter.

This is the only home my children have ever known. It is my sole intention to be involved and make sure that the town of Avoca continues to be a place where people want to live, work and raise a family while knowing that the mayor and the town council are working to maintain the quality of life that we have become accustomed to.

News, Pages 12 on 10/13/2010