GENTRY — Janie Parks (incumbent)
Age: 53
Residency: Gentry, 35 years
Family: Husband, Mike; three children; three grandchildren
Employment: Parks Lumber Co. in Gentry
Education: Four years of college plus continuing education, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville; University of Arizona, Tempe (School of Respiratory Therapy); University of Central Arkansas Center for Community Development, Conway; Associate of Science in Medical Assistance, state license in Respiratory Therapy
Political experience: Gentry alderman. Also serves on the Gentry Park Commission, Street and Alley Committee, Cemetery Committee. Past member of the city Fire Committee
Reason for candidacy: I have always loved Gentry and its people. I have enjoyed the last four years being on the council. We have accomplished many things and improved the lives of our citizens. I think there are many more opportunities to improve the quality of life in Gentry. My experience as a business owner gives me a unique perspective on the operation of the city. I have completed two years of a three-year program at the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Center. This valuable education is a great benefit to the city for future projects, grant writing, new business recruitment and present business growth. I am the current president of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Gentry United Way. I also have been a part of Winrock International’s Rural Capacity Building Workshops for the last several years, working to bring our city more opportunities.
Goals in office: I would like to continue our work on the city parks. We have the opportunity to develop new areas for park expansion. I think that it is very important that we work on a five-year plan for major street and drainage improvements. I think that it is important to address future sewer requirements for the city. We need to make sure we have adequate sewer available to encourage future growth either residential, commercial or industrial. We need to keep working to improve water pressure and waterline extensions. I would like to see our city become more business friendly. Our business community is the motor that drives this city. We need to do everything we can to encourage our local businesses and recruit new businesses. My goal is to make Gentry a place that our citizens are proud to call home.
Katrina L. Cryer
Age: 26
Residency: Gentry, five years
Family: Husband, Kevin, one child
Employment: Boyce and Bynum pathology lab in Johnson
Education: Keiser College in Tallahassee, Fla., Phlebotomy certification, 2005.
Reason for candidacy: To bring a fresh perspective to issues facing our community.
Goals in office: My main goal will be to use communication with citizens and business owners to make level-headed decisions and form realistic approaches to community issues. I believe that everyone should have a voice, so I want to make myself personally available for questions or problems you as citizens may be facing.