BENTONVILLE — Burton Head, a Benton County justice of the peace in the 1970s, filed Wednesday for the Ward 4, Position 1 seat on the Bentonville City Council. Alderman Jim Dotson will not seek re-election to the seat after he was elected in May to the state Legislature.
Profile
Burton B. Head
Bentonville City Council
Ward 4, Position 1
Age: 67
Employment: Retired, works part-time at Bella Vista Country Club
Education: Bentonville High School, attended the University of Arkansas
Military Service: Navy, four years; Arkansas National Guard, six years
Family: Wife, Carol
Political Experience: Benton County Justice of the Peace, 1971-76
Head, 67, will face Octavio Sanchez in the Nov. 6 general election. Head worked for Bentonville for almost eight years, which he said will give him a fresh perspective if elected to the council.
That city experience will help as the city continues its “growth challenge,” Head said.
“Having worked for the city, it gives me a different perspective on some things like utilities and road traffic,” Head said.
Keeping traffic moving smoothly on adequate road infrastructure should be at the top of the list for the city, he said.
Head envisions the city will be a major tourism draw within the next 10 years, leading to more people, traffic, shops, schools and parking issues.
“The City Council will be facing a tremendous challenge with the growth, and I would like to help with that challenge,” Head said.
Head retired after 29 years with Union Carbide, First Brands and Glad Manufacturing Company. He works part-time at the Bella Vista Country Club, traveling through the northern part of Bentonville on a regular basis.
Head said construction of a Harps Food Store on North Walton Boulevard will be a boon to the corridor. He said the new shopping destination will draw other businesses to the area.
Bentonville has four wards representing geographical areas of the city. Ward 4 covers an area north from Southeast Walton Boulevard to Central Avenue and east of Southwest I Street to Interstate 540, according to the city’s website.
Each ward has two positions, for eight council representatives.
The Ward 4, Position 1 race is one of four contested Bentonville council races so far, according to the Benton County Clerk’s Office. In Ward 1, Position 1, incumbent Mary Baggett will face Stephanie Orman. In Ward 3, Eddie Austin will vie for re-election for Position 1 against Leah Williams, while incumbent Bill Burckart will face James Smith in Ward 3 for Position 2.
Candidates have until Aug. 17 to file for municipal office.