Cavness Vies For Bentonville Council Position

BENTONVILLE -- Jon Cavness looks to fill the Ward 1, Position 1 City Council seat that will be vacated by Mary Baggett.

Baggett will not seek re-election. Cavness will run against Stephanie Orman and Michael Williams for the position. Election day is Nov. 4.

Cavness served two terms on the council from January 1991 to December 1994. He decided to not seek a third term because he felt like he was missing out on many of his children's activities, he said.

Now retired, Cavness said he has the time to serve again.

Cavness' family has deep connections with the city. His father served on the council for two terms, was mayor, served as president of the school board, was active in the volunteer fire department and was the head football and basketball coach at the high school.

"We have a lot of roots here," Cavness said. "It's the reason I want to serve and give back to the city."

Cavness said he would like to see a compromise be made between the county and cities concerning ambulance service. Cavness also said he'd like to be a part of the city's continued growth.

John Winter served on the council from 1988 to 1996. Four of those years were with Cavness.

"He was an outstanding addition at that time, as he would be this time," Winter said of Cavness.

Cavness has good insight and looks at all facts before making conclusions, Winter said.

With his previous experience on the council, Cavness would be able to hit the ground running, Winters said.

"He has an understanding of the principles and the basics of it," Winter said. "I'm sure he would be up to speed quickly."

Herb Parton has known Cavness for 25 years, and was his supervisor when Cavness worked at Carroll Electric.

"He's very honest and dependable and trustworthy," Parton said of Cavness. "He absolutely follows through with what he says he's going to do."

There are 19 candidates for Bentonville City Council's eight seats. The filing period for municipal elections closed Friday.