Perry Resigns From Bentonville Council

BENTONVILLE -- Shane Perry resigned Tuesday from the Bentonville City Council.

He and his family will move to Mexico as Perry has accepted a position there with Walmart, he said. Perry served in Ward 2 for seven years.

"Aside from faith and family, serving in city office has been one of the more rewarding things I have ever done," he wrote in his resignation letter.

Perry's resignation is the third on the council in about three weeks. Leah Williams, former Ward 3 alderwoman, and Chris Sooter, former Ward 1 alderman, resigned days apart in June as both moved out of the wards they were elected in.

The City Council appointed James Smith to Ward 3 and John Skaggs to Ward 1 at its June 24 meeting.

Sooter, who moved out of Ward 1 and into Ward 2, sent a letter to the mayor's office Tuesday expressing interest in appointment to the empty Ward 2 seat, he said.

Sooter said he was aware of Perry's possible resignation, knowing that a position may open up in the ward he was moving into, but was going to move regardless of Perry's situation.

"It's just kind of strange how everything happened," he said.

Sooter, who has served on the council for 12 years, said he plans to run for the Ward 2 seat in the November election.

"I have a real passion to serve the city, and I've done it for a long time," he said. "I feel like I still have a lot to contribute."

All eight council seats are up for election. Those appointed to vacant seats will have to run again in the election, Mayor Bob McCaslin said.

The city is accepting applications for the open Ward 2 seat. An appointment will be made at the Tuesday meeting.

Those interested in applying must live in Ward 2 and be a qualified elector in Bentonville, according to the city's notice of vacancy. The boundaries for Ward 2 are north of West Central Avenue and Southwest Second Street to city limit and West of Northwest A Street and North Walton Boulevard to the city limit.

Letters and resumes can be submitted by mail or delivered to City Hall at 117 W. Central Ave., by fax at 479-271-3105 or by email to Mayor_Assistant@bentonvillear.com.

Submissions must be made by 9 a.m. Tuesday. The council meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the Community Development Building at 305 S.W. A St.