SPRINGDALE -- The incumbent and challenger for Springdale City Council Ward 2, Position 2 seek to foster growth and development in the city.
Ward 2 takes up southeast and a small part of east central Springdale.
Springdale City Council
Ward 2, Position 2
Rick Evans*
Age: 58
Residency: Springdale, 40 years
Employment: Everett Chrysler Jeep Dodge, five years, handling dealer trades and inventory control; former employee of SourceGas of Arkansas/Arkansas Western Gas Co., for more than 30 years.
Education: Springdale High School graduate, Class of 1976
Political experience: City Council member for 18 years; Springdale Planning Commission member for six years; chairman of the Street and Capital Improvement Program for 18 years; and one of the founding members of downtown Springdale Alliance Committee.
*Incumbent
Ray Dotson
Age: 57
Residency: Springdale, 45 years
Employment: Owner of Dotson Glass and Mirror and Spring Creek Amish Market, both in downtown Springdale, and Stockyard Stables in Fort Worth, Texas’ historical district
Education: Springdale High School graduate
Political experience: Served on the City Council in 1992, 1994 and from 2004-08
Incumbent Rick Evans, who has served on the council for 18 years, is challenged by Ray Dotson, a Springdale business owner who has served multiple stints on the council since 1992.
Evans and Dotson said they believe growth is essential to the city's success.
"I care most about our economic growth and our revitalization of the downtown area, as well as the growth of the area near the ballpark," Evans said. "These are the two areas that are starting to grow, which could be vital to our city and its economy, which in turn boosts the revenue of Springdale."
Dotson champions growth and stresses the need for another fire station to give better emergency coverage around Interstate 49, as well as the need to evaluate city employee pay and training.
"As a citizen and business owner of Springdale, I would emphasize the importance of growth, and with growth comes new residents, new business and the demand on infrastructure," Dotson said.
Dotson praised the vitality of the downtown area and the revitalization effort.
"Springdale needs to be a standalone city," he said. "Our own prominent downtown re-established that it represents the citizens aesthetically, socially and economically."
Evans said he believes downtown revitalization is a component in Springdale's growth.
"That is one of the reasons I was a founding member of the Downtown Springdale Alliance," Evans said. "I would personally like to see more restaurants and entertainment come into downtown as well as some shopping and boutiques."
Evans said his common-sense approach, experience and deep involvement in city committees makes him the candidate voters should choose.
"I have served on several different committees over the last 18 years and currently serve on the Downtown Springdale Alliance Committee, and I am the chairman of the Street and Capital Improvement Program," he said.
Dotson believes his business savvy and economic experience make him the right choice for the City Council.
"With my 33 years of running and operating two successful businesses in Springdale, I have a better understanding on how to spend the taxpayers' money," he said. "With Springdale being the eighth-fastest growing city in the United States, with my strong leadership and working with other council members and mayor, I can move the city of Springdale in the direction it needs to go."
Early voting begins today. The general election is Nov. 8.
NW News on 10/24/2016