BENTONVILLE -- Voters in Benton County's Quorum Court District 2 will choose either Democrat Rey Hernandez or Republican Josh Bryant as their justice of the peace in the Nov. 8 general election.
Bryant defeated incumbent Sue Shadlow in the March Republican primary.
Benton County
Justice of the Peace
District 2
Josh Bryant (R)
Age: 38
Residence: Rogers
Employment: Co-owner John Craig Construction
Education: Graduated Benton County Christian School; attended University of Arkansas
Political experience: None
Rey Hernandez
Age: 66
Residence: Rogers
Employment: Site supervisor, DSI Security Services
Education: Bachelor of science in education, University of Arkansas
Political experience: Benton County Quorum Court, 2013-14
Hernandez has the advantage of some familiarity with voters, having served one term on the Quorum Court for the district, which covers part of eastern Rogers and some of the area east of the city toward Beaver Lake.
"I've done the job before," Hernandez said. "I would have loved to be able to continue, but I wasn't allowed to run last time because I was appointed."
Hernandez was appointed to the Quorum Court to serve out the 2013-14 term of Frank Winscott, who moved out of the district after being re-elected in 2012. State law bars anyone appointed to a seat on the Quorum Court from running for that seat in the next term.
Hernandez said his experience would serve the voters of the district well.
"I understand the county budget," he said. "I'm familiar with the road situation. I've dealt with personnel and capital projects. I won't have to go through the normal learning curve."
Bryant said he's always been interested in public service and sees county government as an area where he can use the skills he's acquired in his life. He said he's interested in problem-solving, not politics.
"I don't consider myself very political," Bryant said. "I'm interested in the same things everybody else is interested in. People are concerned about trash problems in the county. They are concerned about property rights issues, about taxes and roads. There's not a lot of hot button issues that come before the Quorum Court."
Both men identified the question of a new courts building as the biggest single issue the Quorum Court faces. The county has been debating the need for a new building to house circuit courts and related offices for several years. The discussion has touched on possible locations for a building in the downtown Bentonville area or near the County Jail on Southwest 14th Street, how a building might be paid for and what a new courts building could mean for the historic county courthouse and other existing county buildings.
Bryant said he wants to be sure the county finds the right long-term solution for the courts.
"I see there's a lot of conversation about the immediate impact and that's important," he said. "I like to look at the big picture, on how they're planning for the future."
Hernandez said he wants to see the county do more to gather input from voters on the questions surrounding the courthouse.
"As far as the courthouse location and so-on, I think we need to be very respectful of the wishes of the people of Benton County," he said.
Early voting starts Oct. 24.
NW News on 10/17/2016