Voters Return Council Members

— Voters sent three incumbents back to the City Council, but favored a political newcomer over the city’s longest-serving alderman Tuesday.

With partial results in, Leah Williams looks to be elected to the Ward 3, Position 1 seat over Ed Austin. Austin has been a mainstay on the council for more than 25 years.

Sanchez
Sanchez

The Benton County Election Commission hadn’t finished counting paper ballots by Wednesday night, but all electronic vote totals had been reported to the Arkansas Secretary of State. The totals showed Williams with 5,206 votes to Austin’s 3,979.

Head
Head

Williams said Wednesday she was excited about starting her term on the council.

“To my supporters, family and friends, thank you for believing in me and granting me this opportunity to serve the beautiful city of Bentonville,” Williams said. “I will work hard for you.”

Chris Sooter
Chris Sooter

Williams is a compliance analyst for Walmart and the mother of four young children.

Incumbent Bill Burckart was leading the Ward 3, Position 2 race against former alderman James Smith on Wednesday. Burckart had 5,267 votes to Smith’s 4,132.

Baggett
Baggett

“This was a hard race by both, but my margin held and I feel blessed to have so much support,” Burckart said. “My family and I have been truly humbled by the support shown, and I will endeavor to be a good steward and voice for all our citizens and businesses.”

Burckart
Burckart

Burckart is the owner of Burckart Construction in Bentonville.

Incumbent Mary Baggett will return to the City Council if her 53 percent lead holds for the Ward 1, Position 1 seat. She had 5,190 votes to challenger Stephanie Orman’s 4,524 votes. Baggett was elected to the council in 2000, after serving a term as the city’s first female council member in 1972.

“There are so many exciting things getting ready to happen in Bentonville,” Baggett said. “There’s the opening 21c Hotel, the new community center and the East Central project. I’m more excited than ever that I’m on the council.”

Baggett is retired, but works part time for Arvest Bank.

The partial results showed incumbent Chris Sooter defeating Joey Williams in a landslide. He had 6,584 votes to Williams’ 2,930 votes for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat.

“I’m pleased to win another term on the City Council and continue working to make Bentonville the best place to live and work,” Sooter said. “Good things are continuing to happen in Bentonville.”

Sooter is executive vice president of finance and marketing for Member Services Inc.

The only race outcome likely to be affected by the final vote totals is a close contest between Burton Head and Octavio Sanchez for the Ward 4, Position 1 seat. Either candidate would be new to the City Council.

Head had 4,821 votes to Sanchez’s 4,610 votes as of Wednesday night. Head said he was sitting tight and tracking the returns on the county website.

Head is retired, while Sanchez is a database administrator for Walmart.

As many as 400 Bentonville residents were unable to vote in the City Council races Tuesday at the Bentonville Assembly of God precinct. Voters were incorrectly given county ballots that lacked any council races. The Election Commission did not remedy the error until around 12:30 p.m.

Kim Dennison, election coordinator, said there was nothing the commission could do about the voters who lost out on casting a ballot for their council members.

Leah Williams and the winner of the Ward 4 race will join Roger Thomas as the new faces on the Bentonville City Council. Thomas ran unopposed for the Ward 2, Position 1 seat. The seat will be vacated by Ryan Parks, who did not seek re-election.

At A Glance

City Council

Unopposed incumbents returning to the council include Shane Perry from Ward 2, Position 2, and Jim Grider from Ward 4, Position 2. All of the elected officials will be sworn in at the first City Council meeting in January, currently set for Jan. 8.

Source: Staff Report

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