Washington County Incumbent Faces Republican Challenger

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE -- Washington County's District 7 justice of the peace wants a third term, but a fellow Republican is hoping to earn the party's nomination May 20.

Rick Cochran represents an area stretching from Johnson southwest toward Lincoln. He's running for a third term on the Quorum Court.

Profile

Rick Cochran

(Republican)

Washington County Quorum Court

District 7 Justice of the Peace (Incumbent)

Age: 60

Residency: Fayetteville, 15 years

Family: Wife, Schelly; two children

Employment: Senior applications specialist, Washington Regional Medical Center

Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance and insurance, University of Arkansas

Military Experience: None

Political Experience: Quorum Court Justice of the Peace since 2011

James Maynard of Farmington opposes him in the May primary, which is open to all voters in the district. The winner will face Democrat Kendra Boyle, Farmington prosecuting attorney, in November.

Multiple calls in the past several weeks to Maynard weren't returned.

Cochran said he had a record of speaking out and listening to the people he represents.

"I'd rather be the little kid who says the king has no clothes," he said, referring to the old tale "The Emperor's New Clothes" and its lesson of speaking truth to power. "I wasn't expecting to go in and change the world the first time, but I did expect to contribute, and I did."

Cochran is a consistently conservative voice on the panel, which is mostly Republican. In recent weeks he has pushed for the court to assert tighter control over department budgets, down to individual line items. He opposed adding positions to the animal shelter and the Buildings and Grounds Department but was in the minority.

He also voted against this year's $63 million budget. That was largely because the court voted earlier than planned, he said, which meant he couldn't discuss his objections with the others.

"I'm going to bring it up (this fall)," Cochran said. "If they do that again this year, I don't care if I like it, I won't vote for it."

Cochran works as a senior applications specialist for Washington Regional Medical Center. He makes sure different programs and departments trade information effectively and accurately, he said.

"Essentially I'm a data plumber," Cochran joked.

The job requires attention to detail and comfort with complicated problems, he added, both of which are useful on the court.

"I'm hoping to stick around the Quorum Court a little longer," he said. "I'm willing to put the energy into it and do a good job in it, and that's the bottom line for me."

NW News on 05/07/2014