PEA RIDGE — Why do you want to be mayor? I think it’s a great opportunity in my life. This is something that I’ve thought about for quite some time. Right now is a good time. It’s a good opportunity; any time you get an opportunity to serve your community; you need to do it. It’s something I really, really want to do.
Why should someone vote for you? Well, I think I’m a proven leader. I think common sense is one of my greatest assets. I’ll never do anything that will hurt the community. I think I’m really community minded just showing my past record as a council member and school board member.
I think I’m qualified for it. I really do.
What do you hope to accomplish? Well, to keep the city on the same track.
We need to get better. I think once that the economy turns around and it will, we don’t know exactly when, we need to be ready for it. Maybe some businesses will look to come to Pea Ridge, I think there will be more folks come to Pea Ridge. For city, for the school system - it’s one of the best there is in the county. Try to bring more things in here. We can all improve.
Do you have a specific agenda? No ma’am, none whatsoever - no grudges.
I want the opportunity to be the mayor and to serve my community.
What are the sources of revenue for a city - for Pea Ridge? Well, we’ve got our sales tax. That’s something I’ll have to learn more and more about. I think any new candidate will have to settle his feet and find out. I think impact fees.
The city has a budgetof about $2.25 million not including the Water/ Wastewater Department which brings the budget to about $4.7 million.
What is your experience in managing a budget of that size? Well, the school budget is close to $10 million at times, and things.
We go through our budget monthly. I’ve worked closely with the superintendent of schools as School Board president. I looked over line items as School Board president. Your have to rely on office help. I’ve run my own businesses. I’ve got some experiences of running a budget.
The city has about 30 employees, who report to various department heads, who report to the mayor. What people management skills do you have? I have managed a store with a department head, I took care of daily business, everything from making sure bathrooms were clean to closing up at night. I was the sales manager at Nunally’s (Chevrolet) for 16 years.
What do you believe is the job description of the mayor? To make sure the city runs smoothly, be a good steward of the money.
He’s just got to be able to manage people and take care of folks, the department heads, make sure everybody is on the same page. Be sure the citizens are getting the best value for the dollar they possibly can ... good character, somebody people can trust.
What are your plans for the various city departments?
Water/wastewater: Well, as growth goes, as you can upgrade stuff. I know at the last council meeting, they were talking about wastewater plant.
We’ll look at grants and sit down with department heads. I’ll learn. I’ll make sure there are five- and 10-year plans. We started that five-year plan when I was on the council. I kind of had the street deal I looked into and everything;
hopefully, to help each department learn from each department head what they’ve got going on and what their goals area; also the citizens’ goals. I’m not one who’s going to come in and fire everyone, that’s not my agenda or anything like that. I want to make sure we’re all on the same page. I want to make sure we all get better each day.
Streets: Well, we’ve got to have our plan five- to 10-years and see what streets need to be done first. The heavily trafficked plans will be the priority; but don’t put others on the back burner either. We’ll see the availability of money, too.
Parks: I think they’ve done a good job; something I’d like to see, I wouldn’t mind seeing at a later date, is that the trail ought to be asphalt. That’s just an opinion. I’ve watched for years them going out there.
When I first moved our there, I mowed it. Paving it would make it easier to maintain and trim. Like that area between the fire and police stations ... maintain walking trails. We need to talk to the parks commission; we’ve got them there for reason. When they come with an idea, let’s look at it. I’d be open to any suggest from any citizen.
Library: I’ve probably not been in very often, I just don’t know what the Library Board has done. We need to maintain and keep it up to date.
There’s concerns on different departments’ employees that will be addressed after election is over with. I think the new mayor - I - will sit down with each department head and find out what their goals are, make sure we’re on the same page, make sure that we’re doing what is the best for the city of Pea Ridge.
People ask me what I’m going to do. That’s my deal, that’s my goals, make sure I’m a part of bettering the town.
Police: I want to sit down with the chief and see what his plans are and make sure everything is covered, make sure we’re spending our dollars right.
Fire/EMS ... here’s the deal, it’s one of the big things. It’s whatever the city is able to do it. It wouldn’t bother me a bit to see more of a full time fire department in the future, as quick as possible. We’ve been talking. They found the money and put a couple of people on weekend. I think it’s a great idea.
I want to, with the emergency services - police and fire and EMS services - make sure we continue to stay on top and have the best equipment possible.
These are very, very important two departments.
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I want to see, I want to make sure this happens - our city and our school systems are working closer together as one. Without the city, there’s no school;
without the school, there’s no city. In my opinion, they work hand in hand; the better the school system is, the more people are apt to move to the city. The more people move to town, the more people use stores, use water. That’s is very dear to my heart right there - that the relationship between the school and the city, and vice versa, get better.
I’ll resign (from the School Board) the when I’m elected (mayor). I’ll resign in the December (School Board) meeting. I still believe ... it’s a conflict of interest for somebody to hold two positions.
The School Board and the city - they’re the two biggest elected entities in town.
News, Pages 6 on 09/29/2010