NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Editor’s Note: Terry Sayre and Matthew Yeager are seeking the Ward 2, Position 2 seat on the Lowell City Council in the Nov. 6 election. Early voting begins Oct. 22. Sayre is the incumbent. The candidates were asked what they see as the challenges the council will face in the next two years and how would they would address them. Answers were edited for length and clarity.
Profiles
Lowell City Council Ward 2, Position 2
Terry Sayre
Age: 57
Residency: Lowell for 16 years
Family: Wife, June; one daughter, Sherri; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild
Education: Graduate of St. Paul (Ark.) High School
Political Experience: Serving first term on Lowell City Council
Military Experience: Served in the U.S. Navy from 1975 to 1979
Question: What are the challenges the City Council will face in the next two years and how would you address those challenges?
Answer: The city has been faced with the USA Metals versus Southfork II residents (dispute) the past two years, the loss of our police chief and the issue with the residency of our city attorney. These are by no means trivial issues and should be handled with the utmost care. The budget will be the main issue the next two years. Because of the uncertainty of our economy, the budget is an intricate part of a councilman’s duties. We need to maintain and improve the city infrastructure to keep up with growth and still have a surplus.
Matthew Yeager
Age: 31
Residency: Lowell for seven years
Family: Wife, Jennifer; one daughter, Elizabeth
Education level: Bachelor’s degree in computer information systems
Political Experience: None
Military Experience: None
Question: What are the challenges the City Council will face in the next two years and how would you address those challenges?
Answer: I expect some of the same issues of the past year to continue to some degree. Some examples of this are revising and enforcing of city ordinances, addressing resident’s complaints, and reviewing the city budget. City leaders should be good stewards of taxpayer money. Additionally, in the next two years Lowell will need to develop a better defined road map for its future regarding growth/expansion and appropriate zoning.