BENTONVILLE --Benton County residents will see contested races for 10 of the 15 seats on the Quorum Court this year, more than any election in the last decade, along with four countywide races.
Sharon Carter, chairwoman of the Democratic Party Central Committee in Benton County, said the increasing number of Democratic candidates represents a local reaction to national politics.
Voter registration
The deadline to register to vote in the May 22 party primary election is April 23. The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 8.
Source: Benton County Clerk’s Office
"A lot of people are unhappy with the state of the country and the direction it's taking," Carter said.
She said the party held a recruitment seminar last year and has been actively working to find candidates to run for local office.
"I think we have a good chance of winning at least some of the races," she said. "Once people understand Democrats are on their side."
Scott Brownell, chairman of the Benton County Republican Party, said the number of candidates was no surprise.
"It's a full house," Brownell said. "It doesn't really surprise me. I think both parties are strong believers in their party's point of view and this is the time they have to make a difference."
Brownell said the national political discourse will have some influence, but local politics will remain local.
"At the local level, you're most concerned with the citizens in your town, your ward or your district and how the choices you make will affect them," he said.
Mike Kalagias, chairman of the Libertarian Party in Benton County, said his party is growing.
"This is part of a trend not just in Benton County, but nationally," he said. "We're starting to get some traction and get some attention.
Kalagias said the Libertarian Party wants to distinguish itself from the more established Democratic Party and Republican Party, which he said have been corrupted by power over decades of governing.
"They say 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,'" he said. "We haven't been in power. We have principles and are willing to stick to them."
The race for Benton County sheriff will be decided in the May 22 Republican Party primary election. Shawn Holloway, the incumbent, faces challenger Glenn Latham in that contest.
Republican Party voters will also decide the contest for county surveyor between Micheal James and Grant Nevill in the primary.
Two other races for countywide offices will be on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. In the race for county judge, Barry Moehring of Bentonville, the incumbent Republican, will face Ronnie L. Smith of Garfield, a Libertarian candidate. In the race for county assessor, Roderick Grieve of Bentonville, the Republican incumbent, will face Rey Hernandez of Rogers, the Democratic Party candidate.
Republican Party candidates filed in all 15 justice of the peace districts, according to records at the Benton County Clerk's Office. Those include candidates facing opponents from the Democratic Party in six districts and Libertarian Party candidates in five districts. Those contests will be on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
The 10 contested races is the most in any election in the last 10 years, according to information from the County Clerk's Office. In 2008 and 2010, there were six races for the 13 seats that made up the Quorum Court at the time. The county added two justices of the peace to the Quorum Court after the 2010 Census. In 2012, there were five contested races for the 15 seats. In 2014, there were two contested races, and, in 2016, there were three contested races.
There are uncontested races for the seats representing District 2, held by Josh Bryant; District 4, held by Tom Allen; District 10, held by Michelle Chiocco; District 13, held by Kurt Moore; and District 14, held by Brent Meyers. All of those incumbent justices of the peace are running for re-election as Republicans.
In the race for the District 1 seat, which covers much of eastern and northeastern Benton county, two Republican candidates will appear on the May 22 primary election ballot. Mike McKenzie, the incumbent, is facing Dale King, a former justice of the peace for that same district.
In the race for the District 3 seat, which covers parts of Rogers, Republican candidate Debra Hobbs, a former justice of the peace and state representative, is facing Trina Wilson, a Libertarian party candidate.
In District 5, which also includes parts of Rogers, Carrie Perrien-Smith, a Republican, faces, Democratic Party candidate Parker Zielinski.
In District 6, which includes Pea Ridge, parts of Rogers and northeastern Benton County, Republican Pat Adams, the incumbent, faces Democratic Party candidate Brie Madden.
Three candidates filed for the District 7 seat, which covers part of Bella Vista and north-central Benton County. Joel Jones, the incumbent Republican, faces Democrat Matthew Kezhaya and Libertarian Joseph Bollinger.
The District 8 race, concentrated in northern Bentonville, also has three candidates. The incumbent Shirley Sandlin, a Republican, is opposed by Sam Slaton, Democrat, and Jeff Wadlin, Libertarian.
In the race for the District 9 seat, which covers Centerton and nearby parts of Benton County, Susan Anglin, the Republican party incumbent, faces Cody Martin, a Libertarian party candidate.
For District 11, which covers a large portion of northwestern Benton County, Republicans Kelli Latham and Dustin Todd will face each other in the May 22 primary. Democratic Party candidate Susie Kuilan will face the winner of that contest at the Nov. 6 general election.
In District 12, which includes northern Siloam Springs, Adriane Carr, the Republican incumbent, faces Libertarian Party candidate Jacob Faught.
The race for the District 15 seat, which includes parts of Bentonville and Centerton, drew three candidates. Republican Joel Edwards, the incumbent, will face Jamie Sheppard in the Republican Party primary. Democratic Party candidate Asele Mack will face the winner of that election at the general election in November.
NW News on 03/04/2018