Rey Hernandez has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Benton County Quorum Court created when the incumbent Frank Winscott moved out of District 2 after winning reelection in November.
“I live in the county,” Hernandez said Tuesday. “I don’t live inside any city limits and I’ve been here long enough that I’ve developed an interest in what goes on in county government.”
Benton County Clerk Tena O’Brien said she administered the oath of office to Hernandez Tuesday morning. He was assigned to the Quorum Court’s Personnel Committee and Grievance Committee by County Judge Bob Clinard.
O’Brien said Hernandez will serve out the full term that Winscott was elected to, but as an appointee is ineligible to run for reelection.
Hernandez, 63, has lived in the Rogers area since 1990, moving here from Springfield, Mo. Born in El Paso, Texas, Hernandez retired from the United States Marine Corps and has worked in marketing, including working on the first Latino radio station in Northwest Arkansas, and has also worked in Human Resources at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
Hernandez is currently an education instruction specialist at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he is involved in Latino student outreach programs.
Hernandez said he’s very interested in helping county government manage growth in the area.
“It’s important that the growth be managed as much as possible so that we don’t create problems for the future,” he said.