Two square off over Washington County JP 13 seat

FAYETTEVILLE -- A former Washington County employee is challenging a justice of the peace for his seat on the Quorum Court.

photo

Laurie Roy-Smith, a Farmington teacher and former assistant fire marshal

photo

Justice of the Peace Joel Maxwell is shown in this file photo.

Laurie Roy-Smith, a Farmington teacher and former assistant fire marshal, is running against Justice of the Peace Joel Maxwell, a longtime businessman. Both are Republicans who want to represent the westernmost portion of Washington County, which includes Summers and Evansville.

Washington County Justice of the Peace District 13

Laurie Roy-Smith, Republican

Age: 31

Residency: Lincoln. Moved to Washington County from Texas as a small child.

Employment: Farmington Middle School health teacher, 2014 to present; Washington County assistant fire marshal, 2004-2012.

Education: Bachelor’s of science education degree in kinesiology and education, University of Arkansas; fire science degree, Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Political Experience: Lincoln City Council, 2012-2014

Joel Maxwell, Republican

Age: 45

Residency: Between Cincinnati and Siloam Springs.

Employment: Alkermes, pharmaceutical company, territory business manager, 2015-present; Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, 2003-2015; and Schering-Plough Corp., pharmaceuticals, 1996-2003.

Education: Bachelor’s of science in chemistry, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla.

Political Experience: Justice of the peace, District 13, 2015-present; former constable.

Source: Staff Report

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated Maxwell's residency and omitted his experience as a constable. The errors have been corrected.

Early voting starts Tuesday, and whoever wins is likely to be the next justice of the peace because no other candidates filed for the position.

The position could be instrumental as the county faces another tough round of budget talks this fall. The Quorum Court has looked to cut the county's budget, but expenditures continue to grow. This year's budget shows expenditures increasing by $1 million to $63 million.

Maxwell said his experience in business and politics makes him the best person to address budget and planning issues. As an incumbent, he knows how the county works and has the education and understanding necessary to control spending, he said.

"One of the things I bring is the understanding and the relationships," Maxwell said.

Roy-Smith said she has worked inside the county and also understands how it works. She said she has an advantage because she has built solid relationships with county employees and rural residents.

"Public service is all I know," Roy-Smith said.

Roy-Smith said county residents need more outreach from their leaders in diverse communication methods. She sees a need to use social media to reach residents, create a system where residents can check on which roads are next to be fixed and to showcase a plan listing the county's goals.

Maxwell said he supports pay raises for employees but he is concerned about the county's budget. The Quorum Court might consider creating a system to prioritize funding to keep the budget as fiscally sound as possible, Maxwell said.

"One of the facts of the Quorum Court is we have a limited amount of resources and an unlimited amount of good ideas," he said.

Roy-Smith agreed the county must make a plan, including a road priority plan, but she said communication is the first step. The goals, once written down, must also be tracked, she said.

"I honestly couldn't tell you what their goals are," Roy-Smith said referring to the Quorum Court.

Justices of the peace must also talk more with county employees outside of public meetings, Roy-Smith said.

"Finding avenues of communication is going to be key," she said. "Everybody needs to be on the same page."

The Quorum Court has been plagued in the past two years by controversy and bickering among some justices, elected countywide officials and employees. Some county employees have said they feel attacked by the Quorum Court and are frustrated.

Quorum Court members have discussed low morale among county employees multiple times. Pay raises were discussed at a committee Monday, but justices took no action. Communication problems do not stem from the Quorum Court, Maxwell said.

Justices have dealt with contentious problems in a professional manner but have been forced to deal with safety, personnel and flawed construction issues, he said. Most recently, justices questioned the county judge for installing "hidden" cameras in a break room connected to the Quorum Courtroom, Maxwell said.

The Quorum Court gets along with most elected officials, but there is some broken trust, mostly coming from departments overseen by the county judge, he said. The tension was created "through no fault of the Quorum Court," he said.

NW News on 02/11/2016

Upcoming Events