Fitzpatrick, Taylor Vie For District 8

— A passion for service to her community drives Barbara Fitzpatrick to continue serving on the Washington County Quorum Court.

Her Republican challenger, Brenda Vassaur Taylor wants the Quorum Court to be efficient in its spending because she said the budget is the primary job for the justices of the peace.

The two want to represent District 8, which is in central Fayetteville, south of Arkansas 112 and west of College Avenue.

Correction

Brenda Vassaur Taylor's name and experience as a CPA were incorrect in the original version of this story. The errors have been corrected.

At A Glance

Early Voting

Early voting for the Nov. 6 general election began Monday at two rooms in the Washington County Courthouse and one polling place in Springdale. Hours at each site are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Nov. 3. The locations:

Washington County Clerk’s Office, paper ballots only.

Washington County Quorum Court Room, touchscreen voting machines only.

Springdale Rodeo Center, touchscreen voting machines only.

On Nov. 5, hours will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the courthouse and the Rodeo Center will be closed.

Voters should call the Clerk’s Office at (479) 444-1711 or visit the website, voterview.org, for information about polling places. Sample ballots are available on the website.

Source: Staff Report

Fitzpatrick, a Democrat, said the need for government services extends into the cities and towns of Washington County, although many people don’t understand that.

“You can’t marry, can’t be buried and can’t hold an election without county services,” Fitzpatrick said.

No one in the Cincinnati community turned away county services after the New Year’s Eve tornado in 2010 and no one complained about the county’s efforts to clear roads and driveways after the 2009 ice storm, she said.

Fitzpatrick supports the equivalent of three months in reserve money to address emergencies.

“It costs $5 million a month to run the county and I think it best to have three months of running room in the sock as I like to say,” Fitzpatrick said.

Spending the reserve on projects such as the new animal shelter or adding space at the Juvenile Detention Center also means the county isn’t borrowing money for those projects.

“I want to maintain the balance to pay as we go and replenish those reserves,” Fitzpatrick said.

Taylor declined to discuss specifics of the county budget, including the reserve account, although she has been attending budget sessions in recent weeks.

I like to know about a situation and get a view on how it operates before commenting, she said. “I prefer to look at the bigger picture.”

She said she qualified certified public accountant and her legal experience will serve her well. She wants to see financial stability in the county revenue and expenditures.

“I will bring fresh eyes to each area of county revenue and expenditures,” she said. “I will lead to assist in passing a budget to meet the needs which spring from the purpose for county government, while extracting from its residents the taxes or revenues to meet those required expenditures, and no more,” she said.

She lives and owns businesses in the district, which she describes as a combination of low to middle income residents and businesses from Washington Regional Medical Center to small business shops where someone can buy a good sandwich or loaf of bread. She tells voters she listens to both sides and, without elaboration, said she has worked with issues and situations she didn’t agree with.

Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick

Profile

Barbara Fitzpatrick

Democrat

Age: 61.

Employment: University of Arkansas, administrative assistant.

Residency: Fayetteville since 1997.

Family: Single. 2 children, 5 grandchildren.

Education: Master’s degree in secondary education, University of Arkansas.

Military service: None.

Political experience: Justice of the peace, Washington County Quorum Court, since 2000, chairman of the Finance and Energy Committee.

Taylor
Taylor

Profile

Brenda Vassaur Taylor

Republican

Age: 59.

Employment: Lawyer.

Residency: Fayetteville since 2004.

Family: Widow. 4 children, 1 grandchild.

Education: Law degree, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; master’s degree in tax law, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

Military service: None.

Political experience: None.

Upcoming Events