Hernandez bidding for Benton County Assessor's Office

ROGERS -- Rey Hernandez, a Democrat from Rogers, is running for Benton County Assessor.

Hernandez will face the incumbent, Republican Roderick Grieve, in the Nov. 6 general election. The salary for the County Assessor is $94,656.90 and the term of office will be four years beginning in 2019.

Hernandez, 68, has lived in Benton County since 1989. He served as a Justice of the Peace in 2013 and 2014, after being appointed by then-Gov. Mike Beebe to fill a vacancy on the Quorum Court. Hernandez said he is "semi-retired," working part time for a security company and serving as security supervisor for Willow Creek Women's Hospital.

Hernandez was barred by state law from running for the term after he was appointed. He ran for the District 3 seat on the Quorum Court in 2016, losing that race to Josh Bryant.

Hernandez said he chose to run for County Assessor as a way to serve the community.

"Having served as a JP I felt a county-wide position would be appropriate. I didn't want it to be anything too political," he said. "hen I heard Tena O'Brien was not running for County Clerk I briefly considered that, but I settled on the Assessor's Office. I liked the job Bear Cheney did when he was in office. I felt I could contribute to the modernization of that office."

Hernandez said he has some past business experience with valuing property while working for Sunbelt Business in Bentonville.

"As part of that job I had to do business valuation," he said. "I had to determine what a business would sell for. That and the time I spent on the Quorum Court."

Hernandez said he wants to modernize the office, providing opportunities for the staff to receive ongoing training and to use the most modern technology.

"I want them to have the tools they need to do the work that's needed," he said. "Benton County is the second-largest county in the state. We're growing in population and financially"