BENTONVILLE — Benton County Judge Bob Clinard will seek a third term in office.
Clinard, 63, announced Friday he plans to seek re-election to the office he has held since 2011. He said he will run on his record of the last three years.
Profile
Robert D. “Bob” Clinard
County Judge (Incumbent)
Age: 63
Residency: Rogers
Family: Wife, Kim; six children
Employment: County judge
Education: Bachelor of science in construction management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
Military Experience: U.S. Army, honorable discharge, 1974
Political Experience: Benton County judge 2011-present
Source: Staff Report
“In that time our administration has achieved almost all of the goals I set forth when seeking the office in 2010,” Clinard said in announcing his decision. “The main goal was to restore the spirit of trust, confidence and cooperation between the office of County Judge, the Quorum Court and the employees of Benton County. I believe that has been firmly accomplished, evidenced by the strong working relationship I have developed with the justices of the peace, the county employees and other leaders in Benton County. We have all worked together in a spirit of harmony and respect to improve the effectiveness of Benton County government and services.”
Clinard acknowledged recent problems in the Road Department, including the arrest of three top administrators in connection with allegations of theft, and criticism of the department’s handling of the December ice and snow storm. He said he has confidence in the new leadership in the department.
“We have rebounded from a bad situation with the changes in the leadership to a place where we have replaced them with qualified people who are doing a fine job,” Clinard said. “We have had to deal with two major disasters this year with the flooding and the snow storm. That set us back to where we weren’t able to make as good a showing in paving our roads as we could have. We’ve been doing repair work instead and that’s going to continue on into 2014. We’re going in the right direction.”
Clinard said his 35 years in the construction business has helped the county in several major construction projects, including the buying and remodeling a new county office building in Rogers.
Phil Fletcher, who lives south of Hiwasse, said he has known Clinard for several years, since they worked together on a number of construction projects.
“I’ve known Bob for probably more than 10 years,” Fletcher said. “He was in the construction business and that’s what I do for a living. We did a lot of work for him. The thing I’d say about Bob is he’s always trying to be fair and honest with people.”
Fletcher said he was somewhat surprised when Clinard first decided to run for public office, but he soon changed his mind.
“He has a lot of knowledge of things that are important to the county, like dirt work, infrastructure, buildings,” Fletcher said. “I think he’s been real conscientious in taking care of the people’s money.”
Dick Mahan of Bentonville also came to know Clinard during his career in construction. He praised Clinard for his knowledge, experience and integrity.
“He’s probably the most qualified person we’ve had in that office in some time,” Mahan said. “I think Bob is very sincere and committed to doing what’s right for the county and for the people of the county. I think he’s done a good job for the people of Benton County.”
Clinard said he wants to continue the work he’s done as county judge and pointed to a pair of major projects the county needs to address.
“We have two issues of great importance to be dealt with in the next two years,” he said. “One is to settle the issue of ambulance service in the county. The other is working through the feasibility of constructing a new courts facility, including the location, design and financing for the facility. I want to be the judge that solves those issues.”