Jackson To Make Second Run For Rogers Council Seat

Jackson
Jackson

ROGERS -- Keith Jackson, a retired police officer, is challenging the incumbent for the Ward 3, Position 1 seat on the City Council for a second time.

Jackson, who ran against Andrew Hatfield in 2012, lost the race by less than 100 votes. He said he still wants to serve on the council.

Correction

A previous version of this story misidentified Jackson's opponent in 2012. The error has been corrected.

Profile

Keith Jackson

Rogers City Council Ward 3, Position 1

Age: 47

Residency: 5404 S. 60th Place

Family: Wife, Shayla; two children

Employment: Walmart, international investigations

Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Central Arkansas

Military Experience: None

"I've devoted my life to serving the public," said Jackson, a former Greenwood police chief. "I want to continue my public service as an alderman. I moved to Rogers about four years ago because it's a great place to live and work. I want to serve this community as I have in other cities and towns."

"My wife volunteers wherever we live, and I do as well. I've coached baseball and football in Rogers. This is where we plan to live for the rest of our lives, and I want to be part of the community. The best way I can do that is to serve on the City Council," Jackson said.

As police chief, Jackson said he worked closely with the mayor and council.

"I understand budgets and the inner working of a City Council so I won't have much of a learning curve if I'm elected. I will listen to the other aldermen and learn from them with regards to the way the Rogers council works," he said.

Jackson said there are two areas in which he takes special interest.

"Infrastructure is very important to the residents and to the continued growth of the city. The current administration has done a good job keeping pace with the infrastructure needs of the city. I think it's important to have a long-range plan. Building for the future is necessary, but it has to be timed right. You don't want to overbuild, and you really don't want to fail to meet the needs of the residents," Jackson said.

Public transportation is another of Jackson's concerns.

"Funding and operating a public transportation system that's reliable and has the routes to serve the public is bigger than one city can handle. We need to take a regional approach to public transportation. This is a big metropolitan area. There must be a way cities working together can provide a regional system," Jackson said.

He said he's familiar with Ozark Regional Transit and believes the system is doing the best it can with the money available.

"But we need to improve the system, and everybody has to play a role for it to succeed," he said.

Rogers is a great city with many of the amenities most people want, Jackson said.

"Public service is where my heart is. I honestly think I have the ability and background to be a good alderman and add to this great city," Jackson said.

People who know Jackson said he would be a good alderman.

"Keith has great integrity and handles responsibility well. He is a great guy and good family man," said Mike Harris, a friend for five years.

"We coached baseball and Pop Warner football together; that's how I got to know him. He's great with kids and teaches life lessons along with sport fundamentals," Harris said.

"He is one of those straightforward guys. He has no hidden agenda; he is what you see. If he tells you something, you know it's the truth," Harris said.

Cole Dearling has known Jackson for more than 20 years and worked as a police officer with Jackson in North Little Rock several years ago.

"Keith has one of those personalities where he can talk to anybody, anywhere. He knows how to relate to people. He is a problem solver and has offered some good solutions to some vexing problems over the years," Dearling said.

"I think Keith would be a very good alderman. He is concerned about people issues and listens well to others before making a suggestion. He isn't confrontational. He would rather get the issue out and talk it through to reach a suitable solution," Dearling said.

NW News on 08/21/2014

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