BENTON COUNTY — We are coming off another election and will have some new faces in positions of leadership and many people re-elected to positions where they have demonstrated their abilities to the voters’ satisfaction.
On behalf of every candidate, winners or losers, thanks to the almost 25 percent of the registered voters for going to the polls to make known your preferences. It is hard work and expensive in time and money to run for any political office. The successful candidate for Arkansas Senate Seat District 1 (the newly-created district with no incumbent) Bart Hester was quoted in the daily newspaper as saying he knocked on 5,000 doors and his campaign made 600 telephone calls in the last days before the election.
That is truly dedication to the belief that he can bring about change.
As mentioned before, we were active in Brad Karren’s campaign for an open circuit judge’s position in Benton County and his personal efforts in time and money as well as time away from his family are in line with the newly-elected state senator. Numerous people have asked me why I get so involved in politicsand specifically spent so much time on the Karren campaign. The manner in which the daily newspaper endorsed Karren’s opponent really upset me and the personal attack on Karren’s character demonstrated how uninformed the editorial staff was about the results of his efforts as district court judge in Rogers. Two specific incidents I encountered during the campaign may best illustrate the results of his programs and help explain why I got involved.
At one of the big box retail stores a friend and I were checking out at the cash register to pay for our purchases. Brad Karren’s campaign button was on my shirt pocket. The clerk, a young man, maybe early 20s said, “I know that guy.” Thinking he was talking about my friend, I turned to him puzzled. The clerksaid, “No, that guy” and pointed to Brad’s campaign button. He briefly explained how Judge Karren’s patience and firmness “probably saved my life.”I had difficulty talking as I choked back the tears. If you remember, a few weeks ago I discussed my family situation in another state and my grandson is not much younger than this young man we encountered that day. Different circumstances but a dedicated, understanding judge can make a world of difference in the courtroom.
Another day, a different place, a clerk in yet another store was curious about Brad Karren’s background as she asked more about him. After sharing with her some of his efforts in helping people “do the right thing,” and the efforts he has made to provide night court, credit card payment of fines and the ankle bracelet monitoring, she told Dorothy and me about one of the employees at this store wearing an ankle monitor so she could workrather than go to jail for a nonviolent violation of the law. Isolated incident? I doubt it!
I submit to you that when you allow yourself to get involved and actually seek information on the candidates you will find it beneficial to get (deeply) involved. No doubt Brad Karren’s opponent, the appointed judge with thefunny name, is a very talented attorney and a good judge during the time he has handled the Position 3, primarily juvenile docket.
Brad Karren’s successes at the district level need to be applied at the higher court level and without his efforts and those people on his campaign staff, we might have lost that opportunity.
We don’t all have to go door-to-door with the candidates, nor put up signs all over the county. We can get to know the individuals and what they have accomplished in office, or in previous positions politically or in their profession. We do owe it to ourselves and to the future of our city, county, state and nation to get involved at least to the extent we can - recognizing that we all have time limitations that affect us.
This nation is blessed.
We owe the future generations a foundation that is based on honesty, knowledge and love of our heritage.
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Editor’s note: Leo Lynch, a native of Benton County has deep roots in northwest Arkansas. He is a retired in dustrial engineer and former Justice of the Peace. He can be contacted at prtnews@ nwaonline.com.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 05/30/2012