BENTONVILLE -- Jeff Wadlin is a candidate for justice of the peace for District 8 on the Benton County Quorum Court.
Wadlin, 47, filed as a Libertarian Party candidate. He will face the Republican incumbent, Shirley Sandlin, and Democrat Sam Slaton in the Nov. 6 general election.
Wadlin, a resident of Bentonville, has lived in in Benton County and in District 8 since 2011. He works as a membership director for Sam's Club in Bentonville.
Wadlin described himself as "a political moderate" with a desire to "lead from the middle" to find common sense solutions. He said he filed as a Libertarian candidate out of frustration with the two major political parties and a desire to make government more efficient.
"I identify as a Libertarian because our government could be smaller and more effective, and it's unnerving how policies swing from ditch to ditch as the two parties alternate power," he said.
Wadlin said he is concerned that the county is considering spending $30 million on a new courts building. He said he will work to determine what the people of the district think of the plan before he makes any decisions about the building plan.
"I have some questions about the budget," he said. "The first step for me is going to be to go around to some of my neighbors in District 8 and see what their interests and concerns are so i can represent them."
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 03/07/2018