Benton County voters to decide three Quorum Court races

Dale King (from top left), Mike McKenzie, Joel Edwards, Kelli Latham (from bottom left), Dustin Todd, Jamie Sheppard
Dale King (from top left), Mike McKenzie, Joel Edwards, Kelli Latham (from bottom left), Dustin Todd, Jamie Sheppard

BENTONVILLE -- Six candidates are running for three seats on the Benton County Quorum Court in the May 22 Republican Party primary.

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Dale King

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Mike McKenzie

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Joel Edwards

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Kelli Latham

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Dustin Todd

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Sheppard

Justices of the peace serve two-year terms and 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 on. Early voting for the primary begins today.

Republican primary

Benton County Quorum Court

District 1

Mike McKenzie

Age: 67

Residency: Rogers. Lived in District 1 and Benton County 15 years

Employment: Small-business owner, convenience store owner

Education: Bachelor of science in business administration, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Political Experience: Benton County Quorum Court 2013-14; 2017-18

Dale King

Age: 78

Residency: Garfield. Lived in Benton County since 1958

Employment: Semi-retired small-business owner; equipment superintendent McClinton-Anchor construction

Education: Attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville

Political Experience: Benton County Quorum Court 2011-12; unsuccessful candidate for county judge, 2014; Garfield City Council, eight years

District 11

Kelli Latham

Age: 39

Residency: Rural Benton County, near Gentry. A lifelong resident of Northwest Arkansas, has lived in District 11 since 2008

Employment: Telecommunications supervisor, Rogers Police Department

Education: Rogers High School, graduate, attended college

Political Experience: None

Dustin Todd

Age: 29

Residency: Lived in District 11 for one year, in Benton County for eight years

Employment: Manager with Riggs Caterpillar in Springdale

Education: Associate’s degree in criminal justice, North Arkansas Community College in Harrison.

Political Experience: None

District 15

Joel Edwards

Age: 50

Residency: Centerton. Lived in District 15 and Benton County four years. Lifelong resident of Northwest Arkansas

Employment: Information technology at Arvest Bank

Education: Master’s in information assurance from Capital Technology University in Laurel, Md.

Political Experience: Benton County Quorum Court since 2015

Jamie Sheppard

Age: 37

Residency: Centerton. Lived in District 15 two years, in Benton County 24 years

Employment: Vendor for FeraDyne Outdoors

Education: Bachelor’s in criminal justice, Southern New Hampshire University

Political Experience: None

Voters casting their ballots in the Republican Party primary will have races in District 1, District 11 and District 15.

In the District 1 Republican Party contest, incumbent Mike McKenzie faces former Justice of the Peace Dale King. The winner has no opponent in the Nov. 6 general election.

In District 11, Republican Party voters will choose between Kelli Latham and Dustin Todd. The winner will face Democratic Party nominee Susie Kuilan in the November general election.

In District 15, Republican Party voters will choose between incumbent Joel Edwards and Jamie Sheppard. The winner will face Democratic Party candidate Asele Mack in November.

District 1

McKenzie said the Quorum Court is focused on how to pay for the proposed $30 million courts building. He said he doesn't favor a sales tax increase to pay for the building, and he wants any plan to be approved by voters.

"The people I have talked to continue to be opposed to a sales tax," he said. "I'm opposed to a sales tax."

McKenzie said county roads are a bigger concern than the courts building.

"We on the Quorum Court talk more about the courthouse, but the most important thing in District 1 is maintaining the roads. There are a lot of county roads and a lot of dirt roads."

King also said keeping the county roads maintained is a priority.

King said he supports the county's proposed new courts building. He said if the county hopes to get voter approval of the $30 million project, county officials need to do more to communicate with voters.

King said he still has a desire to work in county government.

"I've been talking to people about working together to do what we're trying to do," he said. "I hope that people will trust me, and, if I'm able, we can get things done."

District 11

Latham said she decided to run after learning Bob Bland, the first-term incumbent, would not seek re-election. She said she wanted to offer a perspective of a rural county resident to the Quorum Court.

"I think people want to be represented, and a lot of them don't know how to go about it," Latham said.

Latham said she wants to learn how the county Road Department operates and to represent the rural residents in that process. She is concerned about the size and cost of the county's proposed $30 million courts building, she said, but understands why the county is considering a mix of sales tax revenue and existing county funds.

"Roads are No. 1 in this district, especially with the weather we've had lately," she said. "On the courthouse, it's been real mixed. For most people, the initial knee-jerk reaction is they don't want a tax. If you can explain to them things like there was a sales tax for the jail and it did sunset, it wasn't extended, they may be a little more open to the idea. I've had several people say they want to do more research, which is a good thing."

Todd has worked with the Benton County Sheriff 's Office and the Bentonville Police Department. He said he wanted to get back to the public service aspect he enjoyed while working in law enforcement.

"The main thing people have talked about is they want to have a 'servant leader' who will listen to them," he said

Todd said the proposed courts building is the biggest issue facing the county.

"Nobody wants a tax increase," he said "As a conservative, I don't want a tax increase myself. But if you talk to people, they understand more what's needed."

Todd said he wants the county to be practical with the courts building. He said he favors a hybrid solution that will include some county money along with a short-term sales tax with a sunset clause to pay for the building.

"That's still the best option compared to a bond issue with long-term debt and fees and interest payments," he said. "And cutting the budget means you have to cut services."

District 15

Edwards is seeking a second term on the Quorum Court. He said the experiences of a friend serving on the Washington County Quorum Court spurred his interest in county government.

Edwards said when he started following the Benton County Quorum Court prior to being elected, the justices of the peace were working on the county's annual budget and he became interested in the debate over a new courts building. He said the courts building project remains the biggest issue facing the Quorum Court, but he's concerned the county hasn't done much to educate people about the need for the project and the options for paying for a new building.

"The vast majority of people I've talked to have no clue we're in the middle of a courthouse project, no clue that a tax increase is a part of it," he said.

Edwards said the initial reaction of most people he has talked to is one of opposition to any tax increase.

"That's a long conversation we're going to have to have between now and November. We have to educate people on why it's needed, why we're doing it this way and why we don't do it another way," he said.

Sheppard worked for five years as a deputy sheriff for the Benton County Sheriff's Office where her husband, Sgt. John Sheppard, still works. She said she has long been interested in local government, but couldn't run for a county office while employed by the Sheriff 's Office.

She said she chose to run for justice of the peace because of the direct effect county government has on rural residents.

"The Quorum Court is the heart of the county," she said. "They make the most pertinent decisions."

Sheppard said the main topic she has encountered in campaigning is a desire for government and elected officials to work together.

"I want to be able to get in there and sit down with all of the different agencies and officials and work with them. That's the big thing I think people want."

Sheppard also said people are concerned about growth in the county and fear they may lose the small town feeling they value.

The proposed new $30 million courts building is another major issue facing the county, she said. Sheppard said the voters she has talked to don't want to see budget cuts if it means reducing services, and she is wary of any tax increase to pay for the new building unless there is a cap and a sunset provision attached.

NW News on 05/07/2018

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