BENTONVILLE -- Political newcomer Brie Madden, is running for justice of the peace for District 6 on the Benton County Quorum Court.
Madden, 35, of Bentonville is running as a Democrat. She faces incumbent Republican Pat Adams in the Nov. 6 general election.
Madden said this is her first time to run for office, but politics has always interested her.
"It has always been in the back of my mind," she said. "Since I was nine years old I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. I grew up with Perry Mason and Matlock. And I've always been interested in politics. I've always been a civic-minded, community-minded individual and I thought this was something I wanted to do one day. I kept hearing over and over people telling me 'Brie you ought to do this,' and I finally thought to myself, 'Why one day? Why not now?'"
Madden has lived in Benton County for two years, moving here when her husband got a job with Walmart Inc. She works from home as a corporate attorney for Stewart Title Guarantee, a Houston-based company.
Madden said she wants to bring her legal background and training to bear on county government.
"I am an attorney and I can see all sides and all angles," she said. "I'm a very good at listening to everybody and bringing things to a successful conclusion."
Madden said she's been following the debate over the county's proposed new $30 million courts building, but said she hasn't been involved in the details so she would need to become more familiar with the issue before taking a stand on it.
Madden said she sees the Quorum Court as a non-political body.
"To me, everybody is trying to make the best possible decisions for our community," she said. "At the end, we all really want the same thing."
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.
NW News on 03/06/2018