ROGERS -- Carlos Chicas is running for a position on the Rogers City Council, keeping a promise he made to supporters in 2012, he said.
Chicas lost a bid that year for the council seat held by Bob Goodwin. Goodwin, the longest serving alderman, has been on council 28 years. Goodwin announced he isn't seeking re-election.
Profile
Carlos Chicas
Ward 4, Position 1
Age: 41
Residency: Rogers
Family: Married to Deysi Chicas, three children
Education: Accounting degree from Guatemala; bachelor’s degree in business from John Brown University; working on a master’s degree in counseling at John Brown University.
Employment: Rogers Public Schools, Kirksey Middle School; sports broadcaster, Telemundo Arkansas; “The Voice of the Razorbacks” in Spanish.
Military experience: None
Political experience: Ran for Rogers City Council in 2012 but lost in the runoff to the incumbent.
Chicas, 41, said he has no agenda except to serve all residents.
"This is a great opportunity for me to make a difference and a commitment to contribute to the growth of this area," Chicas said.
He said he wants to address what he sees as information and communication challenges.
"City leaders need to communicate better with residents. We need to make information available to everybody about what's going on in town," Chicas said.
The road around Lake Atalanta is a case in point, he said.
"There were a lot of meetings about the $15 million renovation of Lake Atalanta and the surrounding park area. In most meetings, residents said they wanted to keep the road around Lake Atalanta open. When it came to a vote in the council, aldermen voted to close the road," Chicas said.
Chicas said 35 to 50 people at the meetings favored keeping the road open.
"I realize that 50 people is not a true representation of the whole population of the city, but they were the ones there who were interested in the project. I think there should have been better communication between the city staff and those concerned about the road. It may have made the decision easier to understand," Chicas said.
Chicas said he would use every tool at his disposal -- television, radio, newspaper, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram -- to communicate with residents.
"Rogers is my home. We should all care about our city. I would like to make Rogers a better place to live and work. I want to work with the mayor and the City Council to make that happen," Chicas said.
Randy Koontz, a financial adviser for Pinnacle Wealth management, met Chicas a few years ago when they were volunteers for Hope Cancer Resources.
"Carlos is the epitome of the American dream. He is smart, hardworking and cares deeply about the community," Koontz said.
"He understands average, hardworking people and wants to be the representative of all the people, no matter what race, nationality or background. I think he would make a great alderman," Koontz said.
"I've known Carlos for several years," said John Sampier, a former Rogers mayor.
"I admire Carlos for what he has accomplished. He came to this country, became a citizen, went to college for a degree and is working on an advanced degree. He is a good soccer coach, mild mannered and calm when working with children," Sampier said.
Two other candidates have filed for the Ward 4, Position 1 seat on the council, Carrie Perrien Smith and Antonio Christopher Covington. Smith also ran in 2012; Covington is making his first run for the Rogers City Council.
Filing deadline for a municipal office is noon Aug. 15. The general election is set for Nov. 4.
NW News on 08/07/2014