What are the reasons to vote for someone for a municipal office?
Sometimes the voter personally knows the candidate. Sometimes they recognize the name.
Candidates for Pea Ridge offices
Mayor:
• Jackie Crabtree*
• Mechel Wall
City Clerk/Treasurer:
• Sandy Button*
• Michael Aaron Kelley
Council:
Ward 1, Position 2:
• Bob Cottingham*
• Matt Ahart
Ward 2, Position 2:
• Lance S. Sanders,* withdrawn
• Cody Keene
* denotes incumbent
Maybe a friend recommends a candidate.
Maybe coffee-shop gossip or social media commentaries persuade voters' choices.
A wise voter will seek first-hand information from candidates to know who they are and what their positions are.
Is the candidate honest? Does he or she have integrity? Are they seeking the seat for personal fame or for the good of the city? What skills or experience do they bring to the office? Is he or she a "team player" willing to work with other city officials in the best interest of the voters they represent. Are they visionary?
In the municipal races in northeast Benton County, several seats are contested. The positions are not connected to political parties. Longtime incumbents have opponents. Campaign signs are popping up all over town.
On a side note, signs may not legally be placed in state highway rights of way nor on school or city property. Permission must be gained from property owners before placing signs on private property.
In small communities such as we have in northeast Benton County, it is relatively easy to meet and speak to a candidate first hand.
Some of the candidates are hosting their own meet and greet events telling would-be supporters who they are and for what they stand.
The TIMES is hosting two forums -- one in Pea Ridge and one in Garfield. Questions may be submitted by voters and will be asked of the candidates by the moderator. Each forum is scheduled in a neutral location (not a city-owned building) to avoid any appearance of bias for incumbents or opponents. Answers will be timed. The newspapers have hosted many forums over the years in order to provide residents of the communities an opportunity to see and hear first-hand from the candidates.
The Pea Ridge forum is slated for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, in the cafeteria at Pea Ridge High School. There are two candidates for mayor, two for city clerk and two for one of the two City Council seats. The incumbent for one Council seat has withdrawn.
Every contested candidate was sent a letter inviting them to participate in the forum.
Voters are encouraged to send questions via email ([email protected]), mail to P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge AR 72751 or put in drop box in front of Arvest, Pea Ridge.
Editorial on 09/19/2018