BENTONVILLE — Business owner Roger Thomas said he’ll work to revitalize north Bentonville if his bid for the City Council is successful.
Thomas, 47, is seeking one of two positions representing Ward 2. Ryan Parks and Shane Perry fill the seats. Parks has said he will not seek re-election.
Thomas, a 10-year resident of north Bentonville, said the city should be a “lighthouse” for Northwest Arkansas as it embarks on revitalization.
PROFILE
Roger Thomas
Age: 47
Ward: 2
Employment: TeleComp, principal partner
Family: Wife, Sherry; sons, David and Matthew, and daughter, Lydia
Community involvement: Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce member and ambassador; Children’s Museum of Northwest Arkansas, grass roots board from 2006 to 2009, then vice president of executive board from 2009 to 2011; Bentonville Upward Nazarene basketball coach, Bentonville First United Methodist Church
Education: North Arkansas Community College in Harrison, two years
Military Service: None
Political offices held: None
“This growth expansion opportunity needs an all hands on deck approach that is being fueled by the Walmart headquarters, an unparalleled public school system, Crystal Bridges, the coming of the Walton Arts Center and the realization that the chances are good there will be a first-class children’s museum in our city in the near future,” Thomas said.
Thomas is chief executive officer and principal of TeleComp, a Bentonville-based telecommunications company.
Michael Dereszynski, a senior enterprise architect for Microsoft, said he supports Thomas’ bid.
“Roger and I have shared many personal experiences together including canoe trips with our sons, camping with our families, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, and watching our children grow up together,” Dereszynski said. “Roger is a fixture in not only our church but also in the community. He is a strong, passionate leader who knows how and when to ask for and apply council, yet can stay true to his convictions.”
Thomas said Bentonville faces challenges in meeting transportation infrastructure needs over the coming years, especially during school hours. He said the council should evaluate new ideas and routes as the city becomes more of a tourist destination.
He said the council needs to ensure in the city’s rapid growth all residents’ needs are considered.
“The quality of life for most people in Bentonville is beyond measure, but we need to make sure that we are not leaving any of our citizens behind, and make our city one that every citizen can excel in, to the best of their initiative and ability,” Thomas said.
On the alcohol question possibly facing county voters this fall, Thomas said he’ll work to make sure any necessary transition is handled “intelligently and strategically for all involved” if the county votes to allow alcohol sales.
“I hope that my life as a family man, my record as a local business owner who is actively involved in the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and my involvement in several local nonprofits can provide a good addition for a solid reference point to the Bentonville City Council,” Thomas said.