BENTONVILLE -- Residents in Benton County's District 3 will see a familiar name on the ballot this fall as Debra Hobbs, a former state Representative and justice of the peace, seeks a return to the Quorum Court.
Hobbs will face Libertarian Party candidate Trina Wilson of Rogers in the Nov. 6 general election. Justices of the peace are paid on a per meeting basis -- $230.51 for Quorum Court and Committee of the Whole meetings and $144.08 for other committees they are members of -- and serve two-year terms. The incumbent, J.D. Hayes, was appointed to fill a vacancy and cannot run for the seat in this election.
Hobbs, 62 has lived in Benton County since 1985 and in Rogers since 1994. She was justice of the peace for District 4 from 2007 to 2008. The district boundaries were changed after the 2010 Census and Hobbs now lives in District 3. Hobbs served in the state House of Representatives for three terms beginning in 2009 before being forced to step down due to the state's term limits law.
Hobbs said she was approached by someone and asked if she would run for the Quorum Court again. She decided she was still interested in serving the people of the community but she wanted to do so locally rather than in Little Rock.
"I'll be able to do this part-time, as opposed to running for a state position," Hobbs said. "There won't be meetings in Little Rock."
Hobbs said she's watched the county's work on a proposed new courts building and is interested in that project. She said a recent increase in the estimated cost of the building from $25 million to $30 million worries her
"I'm concerned about the increase in cost for that," she said. "That decision may be made before I could be on the Quorum Court but I will continue to look out for the taxpayers. It's important that we use taxpayers dollars wisely and I want to do my part to make sure that happens."
Hobbs said she doesn't have any special interests in seeking a seat on the Quorum Court. She said she just wants to continue her work in public service.
""I just want to serve where I can and do the best I can for the citizens of Benton County," she said.
NW News on 03/06/2018