Collins Joins Fayetteville Ward 4 Race

Collins
Collins

FAYETTEVILLE -- The controversial Civil Rights Administration ordinance prompted one resident to run for City Council.

Michael Collins, a carrier fleet recruiter and chaplain in the Arkansas National Guard, last week joined the race for Alderwoman Rhonda Adams' soon-to-be-vacant Ward 4 City Council seat.

PROFILE

Michael Collins

Fayetteville City Council

Ward 4, Position 1

Age: 46

Residency: Fayetteville resident since 1992

Family: Wife, Holly; two daughters

Employment: Carrier fleet recruiter, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc.

Education: Bachelor of science education degree, University of Arkansas; master of divinity degree, Liberty University

Military Experience: Five years in the Arkansas National Guard. First lieutenant and chaplain.

Political Experience: None

Collins said at the City Council meeting Aug. 5 the proposal was an "abomination" and "selective discrimination" and it's not local government's place to tell churches and private business owners whom they can and cannot serve.

"We don't need an unelected, unaccountable bureaucracy," Collins said Aug. 5.

He said Friday, if he's elected, he'll work to protect religious freedom and "make sure that people are treated with dignity and fairness."

"I also want to make sure the government is receptive and accountable to the people as its servant -- not a master," Collins said.

He said he could help the council draft "a positive bill to address concerns about human dignity while not jeopardizing constitutional rights."

The ordinance would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on someone's sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Collins said he supports many decisions made by the City Council.

"I think for the most part they're going in the right direction with the city," Collins said. They want to make it business-friendly with bike trails and parks, Collins added.

Clinton Schmidt, a physician at the Veterans Health Care Center of the Ozarks and Collins' friend for about 15 years, called Collins a "hard worker" and a "good citizen."

"He's one of those guys who does what he believes in rather than believing in what he does," Schmidt said.

Ward 4 encompasses a wide swath of west Fayetteville, including the Pratt Place Inn, Holt Middle School, Holcomb Elementary School, Razorback Golf Course, the city's West Side Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville.

Collins faces six opponents in the Nov. 4 general election: Ray Boudreaux; Craig Honchell; D'Andre Jones; John LaTour; Phillip McKnight; and Robert Williams. Adams plans to move to Tampa, Fla., where her husband has accepted a job.

There are two ways to win a municipal race with more than two candidates under state law. In the simplest way, one candidate must get a majority of the votes cast. A candidate can also win with at least 40 percent of the votes, but only if he has 20 percent more votes than his closest opponent.

If neither condition is met, the two candidates with the most votes would likely participate in a run-off election, which would be Nov. 25.

NW News on 08/20/2014

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