JOHNSON — Handling growth is the biggest issue facing the city of Johnson, according to contenders for a council seat.
“There will be opportunities for the city to grow in the future and we need to make sure we’re listening to the citizens and are aware of what their concerns are and what they want and follow what the citizens want us to do,” said Clay Dodson, the incumbent for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat. “The infrastructure’s not really there. I want to put the city of Johnson in the best position to move forward.”
Challenger Keith Allen said the city needs a better tax base and an image makeover.
“The primary issue facing Johnson right now is the lack of business coming into the city. My personal belief on that is nobody wants to build anything there because our police are well known for giving tickets and nobody wants to go through Johnson,” Allen said. “Our infrastructure is poor but that’s being addressed. I think what we need to do is refocus our paradigm and be a little bit more attractive to businesses, try to make incentives to bring businesses into Johnson. I want to see Johnson move forward and be more than just a little bedroom community between Fayetteville and Springdale. I want us to be a moving force in the area.”
Allen said the city has excellent police officers but a reputation for being a small-town speed trap. He’d like to see officers spend more time on community policing and patrolling the city’s neighborhoods and less time waiting on speeders.
Johnson also needs to forge it’s own identity as a city, Allen said.
I’d like to tell the folks in Johnson that we are actually a city, even though we may have Springdale or Fayetteville mailing addresses,” Allen said.
Dodson said he plans to work closely with the mayor and other council members to address growth-related issues.
“I care for the city of Johnson and I have a track record of working well with the other council members,” Dodson said. “It’s a good way for me to give back to my local community, to serve the community.”
Johnson Council Ward 2, Position 2
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Keith Allen
Age: 46
Residency: Johnson, four years
Family: Wife, Karmen, and two daughters, Bailey and Maya
Employment: J.B. Hunt, 21 years
Education: Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, Baylor University Academy of Sciences
Military Experience: Four years, U.S. Army
Political Experience: None
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Clay Dodson
Age: 32
Residency: Johnson, five years
Family: Wife, Cassie, and two daughters, Andie and Mollie
Employment: Wal-Mart, nine years
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, University of Arkansas; law degree, University of Arkansas School of Law
Military Experience: None
Political Experience: Johnson Council, three years.