How to manage Pulaski County's crowded jail divided the three candidates for Pulaski County judge Monday night, during a forum where each candidate answered questions about the jail, new decorative lights for the Big Dam Bridge, roads and employee raises.
One of the three candidates will become the first new Pulaski County judge since 1990, when Buddy Villines, a Democrat, was elected for the first of his 12 two-year terms. The county judge race is one of nine contested races in Pulaski County; the other eight are for justices of the peace.
The forum was moderated by Carol Young of the League of Women Voters of Pulaski County, which hosted the forum and posed several questions. Other questions were submitted by the public.
Republican candidate Phil Wyrick, 65, said keeping the jail open to all offenders was his top priority and argued that the county should open the 160 unfunded beds it built two years ago.
Democrat Barry Hyde, 57, said the jail's problems with crowding and its current closure to most nonviolent, nonfelony offenders was the product of problems at the state corrections level and argued that opening more beds would not solve the jail's problems. Instead, Hyde said that he would provide raises for detention officers and sheriff's deputies, who make less than all other local law enforcement officers.
Libertarian candidate Glen Schwarz, 60, said numerous times that he would end the "war on drugs" in Pulaski County by ceasing arrests for marijuana charges, thereby increasing available bed space in the jail.
The jail, with an annual operating budget of $25 million, has been closed to most nonviolent, nonfelony offenders since late last month and is in the midst of its third closure to such offenders this year.
The 160 unfunded beds are in the county's work center, which is being leased to the state for $1 through July for holding state inmates awaiting prison space. More than half of the beds -- 125 -- are intended for state inmates in the Pulaski County jail.
When asked whether they would support privatizing the jail, Wyrick and Schwarz said they would not. Hyde said privatization deserves review.
"It may not be an option," Hyde said.
"Privatization is really unrelated to our jail being closed," he added, noting that the jail's capacity has grown in recent years.
Wyrick said he would "absolutely not" support privatization.
"[The jail] is part of the responsibility of the county," he said.
Schwarz said he's concerned a private contractor would have incentives to keep people in jail.
"They shouldn't be in it for profit," he said.
Asked how they felt about the proposed interlocal agreement between the county and its five largest cities to fund the jail, Hyde said he believed the proposal -- which calls for immediate 5 percent increases in payments from each city based on the current agreement -- was fair, while Wyrick said it was not. Schwarz said he was not familiar with the funding of the jail and added that it would be a "new detail" for him to learn as county judge.
Hyde said the county used to fund half of the jail while cities funded the other half. But in the past 20 years, he said, the county has paid a much larger portion of the jail.
"The most unfair burden is really upon the county," he said.
Wyrick said Jacksonville and Little Rock -- the two cities that have not come to an agreement with the county -- have justified concerns, particularly while the jail is closed to nonviolent, nonfelony offenders.
Wyrick's wife, B.J. Wyrick, is a Little Rock city director.
The candidates also debated supporting new decorative lights for the Big Dam Bridge over other road and bridge projects in the county.
Wyrick and Hyde agreed that mitigating flooding problems on certain east Pulaski County roads would be high priorities.
Wyrick noted the high cost of the lights -- estimated to be between $400,000 and $500,000 -- and that county structures require routine maintenance that should be considered when determining the county's priorities. He later said he had "no problem" with replacing the lights.
Hyde noted that road and bridge money cannot be transferred into the general fund budget for other projects.
"It can only be spent on road and bridge projects," he said without stating whether he supports new lights. He said he supported bike lanes for high-traffic roads and better maintenance of tall grass beside county roads.
Hyde of North Little Rock owned and operated Hydco Inc. until recently leaving his job to campaign full time. He served six years in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2007-12.
Wyrick, a cattle rancher in Mabelvale, served six years in the House from 1991-96, a term in the state Senate from 1997-2002 and as director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission. He was on the Pulaski County Election Commission twice between 2009 and March.
Schwarz of Little Rock publishes an alternative newspaper in central Arkansas, The Emerald City of the South.
Monday's forum is the first of three hosted by the League of Women Voters of Pulaski County, which will hold one for the Little Rock Board or Directors on Saturday and a state candidates forum Sept. 21.
Early voting begins Oct. 20, and the general election is Nov. 4.
Metro on 09/09/2014