Today in our editorial board recommendation for voters, we visit the contested races within Washington County government minus the county judge.
Early voting in the Nov. 8 General Election starts Monday.
ASSESSOR
The county assessor is responsible for the ongoing process to appraise and assess all real and personal property in the county in accordance with state laws, rules and regulations. It's then up to elected bodies or the public to set tax rates that determine how much the tax collector should charge each property owner based on the value established by the assessor's office.
In Washington County, Assessor Russell Hill, a Republican, earned easy election two years ago. Carol Waddle, a Democrat who formerly worked in mortgage lending with area banks, said she decided to try something different by the time she turned 60, a birthday that's approaching.
She's campaigned hard and knows a lot of people, but she hasn't presented a strong case for booting Hill out of office. Indeed, she said she can't argue he's done a poor job in the office. Hill, who was previously a pastor who started a freight brokerage business, has made the most of his two years in office, having completed all requirements of a robust state certification program for assessors. The county underwent a countywide reappraisal during Hill's first year in office, and did so successfully.
In short, Hill is running a largely administrative office effectively and outside the realm of politics the officeholder must temporarily re-enter every couple of years to run for office.
Our endorsement goes with staying the course by re-electing Assessor Russell Hill.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
District 3 -- Andrew Gaber (D) vs. Harvey Bowman (R)
Upstart Andrew Gaber hopes to unseat incumbent Justice of the Peace Harvey Bowman, saying he'll be "one more voice of reason on the court" who can help avoid conflicts and controversy. Bowman, who is finishing up his second term, wants to return to this north Springdale seat on the Quorum Court to focus an improved Road Department, more efficient spending on roads and figuring out a way to get county responsibilities done for less money.
We recommend re-electing Bowman, whose philosophy appears to be a better fit for the district. He's long struck us for his earnest interest in monitoring how county offices spend their money and understanding the county's needs.
Some fairly serious health complications have prevented Bowman from campaigning lately, so Gaber certainly may find room to make himself known to the district's voters. But he hasn't presented a compelling case to give up Bowman's knowledge and experience after just four years on the Quorum Court.
District 5 -- Stacy Cavender (D) vs. Joe Patterson (R)
We recommend voters of this northeast Washington County district stick with Joe Patterson, the man who has represented them since 1992 and says the next two-year cycle will be his last. His critics might suggest Patterson doesn't say much. Then again, there may be a few other justices of the peace who could learn a thing or two from that. His representation has been steady, always focused on figuring out issues with a commitment not to raise taxes. He says he's big on law enforcement and roads and otherwise tries to let county employees do their jobs.
Cavender, who declined an interview with our editorial board, has said he wants to reduce pay for the justices of the peace, which is $200 per meeting up to a maximum of $14,000 a year. According to his candidate announcement, he's "a supporter of the Second Amendment who advocates responsible gun ownership" and a "Democrat who believes in equality and diversity as strengths." He ran against Patterson as a Republican previously.
District 8 -- Daniel William Balls (D) vs. Samuel Taylor (R)
In this north Fayetteville district, first-term incumbent Daniel Balls faces a challenge from first-timer Samuel Taylor. In our view, Balls has been an engaged justice of the peace who has acknowledged his first term involved a lot of learning about the specifics of county government issues.
Balls is prepared and knowledgeable for a two-year member of the Quorum Court. Taylor's campaign appears mostly focused on party and ideology and primarily criticized the Quorum Courts actions on the county animal shelter, which happened before Balls was elected.
For voters convinced they don't want a Democrat in the office, Taylor is the choice. But anyone else can see Balls as an committed justice of the peace who represents his constituents well.
District 11 -- Joseph Kieklak (D) vs. Patrick Robert Briney (R)
In this race, our editorial board takes the rare position of offering no recommendation to voters. While both contenders seem to be nice fellows, they both bring baggage that led to no agreement on our editorial board for an endorsement.
Kieklak is a young man who has served as a student senator at the University of Arkansas, and his campaign sounds as though that's still the office he's seeking. When it came to identifying the most important issues facing Washington County, he mentioned infrastructure -- a must-have for any Quorum Court candidate -- but the rest of his priorities miss the mark. They are sexual assaults on the UA campus; childhood obesity in Arkansas; and a voting center on the UA campus. We don't dismiss any of those issues as unimportant, but they are not what serving on the Quorum Court is about.
Briney, minister at Missionary Boulevard Baptist Church, is more focused on roads and other traditional business counties do. He appears to have little idea about what concerns might arise from the university campus, an important part of this district, but is more in touch with the kinds of issues the Quorum Court is likely to face. Still, our editorial board couldn't get entirely comfortable that Briney isn't running, at least in part, as a reaction to recent developments such as gay marriage. If voters want a staunchly Christian conservative in the seat, he's the candidate.
Sorry, voters, on this race we couldn't find enough agreement to make a recommendation.
District 14 -- Ann Harbison (D) vs. Jim Renfrow (R)
Ann Harbison has served this district well for nearly 12 years and wants another two-year term. She touts her push for a replacement Woolsey Bridge, a project about to get under way, and support for funding for the county roads. She's being challenged again by Jim Renfrow, who came close to defeating Harbison two years ago. Renfrow says it's time for a change and someone with new energy to serve the people of the district.
We've long backed Harbison, but her interview with our editorial board suggested Renfrow has a point. She's clearly frustrated with fellow Democrat Eva Madison, in particular, and with others who "feel they need to say something on everything." She appears unhappy to have to be explaining herself in the face of Renfrow's challenge.
Renfrow, on the other hand, brings a collection of experiences and fresh perspective we think could be a great fit for District 14. He's a former jailer and deputy at the sheriff's office, served as an international police officer in Kosovo and worked global investigations for Walmart Stores Inc. Today, he's a senior director at a Walmart contractor called Advantage Solutions. He previously served as an elected constable.
We recommend Renfrow, who backs development of strategic road plans, no new taxation until all other avenues are exhausted, more education for county employees to sharpen their knowledge and skills for serving the public, and controls that ensure the Quorum Court and public know what their money is being spent on.
Commentary on 10/22/2016