BENTONVILLE -- The campaign for Benton County sheriff dominated Thursday's Quorum Court meeting, with supporters of Sheriff Kelley Cradduck defending him against critics.
Clifford Ferguson, son of former Sheriff Keith Ferguson, presented a statement to the Quorum Court during the public comment period of the meeting claiming Cradduck is guilty of malfeasance in office but was advised he would exceed the five-minutes allowed to each individual speaker.
Quorum Court vacancy
A pair of former justices of the peace said Thursday they would like to fill a vacancy on the Benton County Quorum Court. Former justice of the peace Jerry Sheridan told the Quorum Court he’s interested in filling a vacancy on the court and has applied to the governor’s office for the appointment. Dale King, another former justice of the peace, also told the Quorum Court he has applied for the appointment. During the meeting the justices of the peace declared a vacancy on the Quorum Court. Ron Easley of District 1 resigned earlier this year after moving out of the district. The Quorum Court is required by law to declare a vacancy and send it to the governor’s office. The governor will appoint someone to serve for the remainder of Easley’s term.
Ferguson cut short his prepared statement, in which he asked the Quorum Court "to instruct the County Attorney to file for and request for the immediate removal" of Cradduck. No action was taken on his request at Thursday's meeting.
Several people came to Cradduck's defense with most of their comments aimed at Kevin Harrison, justice of the peace for District 5 and an open supporter of one of Cradduck's opponents. Harrison filed a series of ethics complaints against Cradduck and Kathleen Kinyon of Centerton said she knew one of those complaints, that Cradduck had a Sheriff's Office employee doing paperwork for his concealed handgun classes, was false.
Kinyon operates the Lonesome Oak Gun Range in Centerton where Cradduck teaches classes. Kinyon said Cradduck's classes are on Saturday, two or three times each month. She said participants in the classes are given two pieces of paper to complete when they arrive at the range and she handles that work.
"There is absolutely no pre-paperwork to be done on county time." Kinyon said. "That is untrue. I do the paperwork."
Kenneth Swank, who owns the property where the gun range is located, targeted Harrison directly, calling him a disgrace to the Quorum Court and an embarrassment to the county. Other speakers echoed Swank's remarks.
Cradduck spoke briefly during the public comment period, saying he had been told by the State Police an audit of his concealed handgun permit classes had been completed and no problems found.
"We passed with flying colors," Cradduck said. "There were no complaints."
Cradduck also took aim at Harrison and Ferguson.
"Just because he says it or Cliff Ferguson says it doesn't make it true," Cradduck said. "I'll have my day in court."
Cradduck said after the public comment period the State Police report on his classes reflects on the merit of Harrison's other complaints.
"I don't give any integrity to anything he says," Cradduck said.
Harrison said after the meeting he isn't bothered by the comments aimed at him.
"It's politics," he said. "If I can't stand the heat I need to get out of the kitchen."
Sharon Whelchel, a candidate for the District 1 seat on the court, also spoke to the justices of the peace during the 30-minute comment period about her effort to help create transition housing for homeless veterans in the county.
During the business portion of its meeting, which lasted 10 minutes, the Quorum Court approved an appropriation ordinance transferring money within the 2015 budget and an ordinance using grant revenue to support the Veteran's Treatment Court program, the Adult Drug Court program, and the Juvenile Drug Court program.
The court also approved appointing Dr. Brad D. Johnson to the Northwest Arkansas HIV Clinic Board.
NW News on 01/29/2016