Bennett Seeks Ward 3 Bentonville Council Seat

BENTONVILLE -- Bryan Bennett will face off against incumbent Bill Burckart and challenger Kristy Reed for the Ward 3, Position 2 City Council seat.

Bennett served on the City Council from 1998 through 2008. Burckart defeated him in the 2008 election by gaining 4,887 votes, or 53 percent, over Bennett's 4,337 votes, or 47 percent.

Bennett said he was inspired to seek election this year after taking his son to orientation at Lincoln Junior High School. It was the same school Bennett went to, he said.

Seeing a photo of himself on the wall caused Bennett to reflect on the city's changes and growth over the years. He is running for council again to do his part in keeping Bentonville "a good place to grow up" for his children, he said.

Bennett said there are no big issues he'll campaign on. Things are going well in the city, especially in the downtown area.

"Traffic and removing snow in the winter time is always huge," he said.

Eddie Austin, former alderman, said he's known Bennett since he played Little League. Austin sat next to Bennett on their way to the Persian Gulf War as both men served in the Arkansas National Guard, Austin said.

The men served on the City Council together, too. Bennett is not afraid to state his opinion, Austin said.

"Bryan's nosy," Austin said. "He likes to be in the know. He works real hard researching issues."

There are 19 candidates for the City Council's eight positions, according the the Benton County Clerk's Office.

The election will be held Nov. 4.