BENTONVILLE -- Dustin Todd, a Republican, defeated Democrat Susie S. Kuilan on Tuesday in the race for Benton County Justice of the Peace District 11.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were:
• Todd: 3,280 (77%)
• Kuilan: 979 (23%)
Bob Bland, the incumbent, did not seek re-election. District 11 covers most of the northwestern corner of Benton County, including Gravette and Decatur.
Todd said previously his background in law enforcement prompted him to seek other areas where he could serve the public.
He said he supports the sales tax funding plan for a new $30 million courts building and the decision to have the proposed one-eighth-cent sales tax increase go to voters.
"I understand the reasoning, not wanting that issue to be crowded out in the general election," he said. "I agree that (the sales tax) is going to be the least painful way to get it funded. I don't want the county to have a long-term debt and pay as much as $9 million in interest if we borrowed the money. That's all taxpayers' money too."
Todd, 30, is the assistant branch manager in Riggs Caterpillar in Springdale.
Kuilan, 52, is the associate dean with the strategic security and protection program with North American University.
Justices of the peace serve two-year terms and are paid $230 for each Quorum Court and Committee of the Whole meeting and $144 for each meeting of a committee of which they are a member.
Politics on 11/07/2018