Edwards seeks return to Quorum Court

BENTONVILLE -- Joel Edwards said he'll seek a second term on the Benton County Quorum Court.

Edwards, 50, of Centerton, is in his first term as justice of the peace for District 5. A native of Northwest Arkansas, he has lived in Benton County and District 15 for about four years.

Edwards said he has always been interested in politics and government, and that interest, plus the experience of a friend, led him to run for the Quorum Court.

"I've always followed politics, I was even a poli-sci major for a while," Edwards said. "I had a friend who served on the Washington County Quorum Court, so I knew what the responsibilities of a justice of the peace were."

Edwards said when he started following the Benton County Quorum Court he was interested in the debate over a new courts building.

"When I started thinking about running, it was during the county's budget process, and they were discussing that. I wanted to have an opportunity to serve, and I wanted to have some input."

Edwards said serving on the Quorum Court for the past year hasn't diminished his interest in county government. One justice of the peace, Bob Bland, came onto the court at the same time as Edwards and cited his frustration with the pace of county government as one reason for not running for re-election.

"I had really good expectations going in on this," Edwards said "I know I'm one of 15 on the Quorum Court, and it's hard for any one individual to change the way the Quorum Court thinks or the way it does things. I understand my limitations on the court."

Edwards said the courts building project remains the biggest issue facing the Quorum Court. He said progress has been made on the project, and he wants to continue working on the remaining questions.

"When I started, the big question was where is it going to be built," he said. "Now that we've determined the where, the next big issue is how to pay for it. I hope we would not do anything that doesn't go for a vote of the people of Benton County."

NW News on 02/17/2018

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