City Attorney Leaves After Decade in Office

Harper Will Become District Judge

Jeff Harper, left, speaks with Ernest Cate, Springdale District Judge, Friday during Harper’s last day in court. Harper, who has been Springdale’s city attorney for 26 years, will take over as district judge for Cate beginning Jan. 1.
Jeff Harper, left, speaks with Ernest Cate, Springdale District Judge, Friday during Harper’s last day in court. Harper, who has been Springdale’s city attorney for 26 years, will take over as district judge for Cate beginning Jan. 1.

— Alderman Mike Overton said City Attorney Jeff Harper is much like Will Rogers.

At A Glance

Springdale City Or District Judges

-James Evans Sr. 1952-82

-Stanley Ludwig 1982-2010

-Ernest Cate 2010-12

Cate was appointed to fill Ludwig’s final term. Cate could not run for the office by state law.

Source: City Of Springdale

Rogers, the cowboy humorist from Oklahoma, said he never met a man he didn’t like. Overton said Harper never met a man who didn’t like him.

“Harper is always cheerful and trying to find something positive,” Overton said.

Harper, 56, will complete 26 years as Springdale city attorney today. He will be sworn in as district judge on Tuesday.

Harper leaves the city attorney position as the longest-serving city official. He worked with three mayors, two city clerks, 34 council members, seven police chiefs and six fire chiefs, he said.

“I have leaned on him a lot,” said Mayor Doug Sprouse. “Not only legal advice, but institutional knowledge about city issues. He is always happy to help.”

Harper has been a great sounding board, said Kathy O’Kelley, Springdale police chief.

“He has been a great advocate for the Police Department,” O’Kelley said. “He has been supportive of the initiatives we’ve brought into the department.”

Denise Pearce, city clerk for 17 years, said she calls him about any issue in the city, especially the controversial ones.

“He tries to get people to work together,” Pearce said. “He tries to work out their differences.”

Harper helped the city operate well by providing leadership, said Jerre Van Hoose, former mayor.

“He helped develop our resolutions and ordinances on how the city functions,” Van Hoose said. “He advised our department heads how city and state laws would affect our procedures. He deserves a lot of credit.”

Harper was first elected from a field of four in a 1986 runoff election. Since then, he has not faced an opponent, including in the district judge’s race in May.

A big issue in his first race was hot checks. He began a hot check collection program that is still operating. The program has collected $5.6 million since it began in 1988, with $4.7 million of the amount going to merchants, according to program records.

The program has brought $718,861 to the city attorney’s office, according to records.

“The program has paid for itself,” Harper said. “We’ve brought in more money in fees than it cost us to collect it.”

Harper attributed the program’s success to hiring the right person — Linda Brown. Brown, the hot check administrator, was the first full-time employee in the city attorney’s office.

Harper was a part-time city attorney when first elected. The job was made full time in January 1996.

Harper’s mentors were Charles McKinney, the former mayor, and Mida Neff, the former city clerk.

“McKinney told me to treat everyone right,” Harper said. “Mida said, even if you are dealing with a person you don’t like, treat them fair.”

Harper said he was fortunate to work with three great mayors: McKinney for 12 years, Van Hoose for 10 and Sprouse for four.

“All of them were honest,” Harper said. “All three did what they thought was best for the city.”

The most highly publicized case Harper worked on, he said, was the 1998 driving while intoxicated trial of Alice Walton. CNN, NBC and all the Little Rock TV stations covered the trial that lasted from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Walton was convicted.

Harper said the most interesting case was the man who claimed to be bitten by a snake in the Springdale Walmart garden center. The man, Ryan Cornelison, eventually pleaded guilty to communicating a false alarm. Police believed he brought the snake into the garden center.

The hardest cases to try were misdemeanor negligent homicide cases, Harper said. Negligent homicide is the charge usually filed when a person dies in a traffic accident or a child dies in a hot car.

Ernest Cate, the current district judge, has helped with the transition. Cate, Harper’s former chief deputy city attorney, was appointed to replace Harper by the City Council.

Harper said he plans to make some changes in the first 60 days he is in office.

The court offices will be open nine hours a day, Harper said, probably extending the 4 p.m. closing time to 5 p.m. The clerks also will make change when people pay fines. Currently, people have to have correct change to pay with cash.

“We have to give customer service,” Harper said. “You have to be accessible.”

Buddy Trollinger, a city resident, said Harper has been a good city attorney.

“I’ve known him for 45 years,” Trollinger said. “He’s as fair as he can be, as fair as the day is long. He’ll make a great judge.”

Court times, however, may have to be moved, O’Kelley joked.

“Harper may have to fit court around his schedule at Neal’s Cafe,” O’Kelley said. “He can’t miss his breakfast and afternoon pie.”

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