JP District 2 candidate is running to serve, she says

Susan Cunningham
Susan Cunningham

FAYETTEVILLE -- Two Springdale women are running to claim the District 2 seat on the Washington County Quorum Court.

The district encompasses much of southwest Springdale from Thompson Avenue to Tontitown.

Susan Cunningham

Republican

Age: 49

Residency: Springdale for 22 years; District 2 for 16 years

Employment: Homemaker.

Education: Bachelor of science in accounting, University of Central Oklahoma; bachelor’s in business administration and management from Oklahoma State University.

Political Experience: None.

Justice of the Peace Fred Rausch was appointed by the governor in July 2017 to fill the district's seat vacated by Sharon Lloyd. He is not eligible to run for the position in the Nov. 6 election.

Susan Cunningham, a Republican and Margaret Lyndsey Strange, a Democrat, filed as candidates.

Strange did not respond the past several weeks to multiple calls and voicemail messages seeking an interview.

Cunningham said she has always had a passion for volunteering in Springdale, where she has lived for more than two decades. She takes time a few days each week to help at The Bread of Life food pantry, she said.

"It's my home, and I love it," Cunningham said. "Running for JP is just a different opportunity for me to serve the people of Springdale."

She has served as a poll supervisor with the Washington County Election Commission since March 2016, but joked that she would not be doing so in the election because of her candidacy.

Cunningham would focus on finding solutions to crowding at the county jail.

She said she would not have specific recommendations about the county's budget or issues like the jail until she learned more about the issues as a justice of the peace.

"It's so new to me. I have been going to all the meetings to see it," Cunningham said. "It's hard to say how you would do something until you have all the information in front of you. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes."

Cunningham said she is fiscally conservative and would not support a tax increase.

"I want to be sure we manage the budget appropriately," she said. "I want to be sure we take care of the roads, EMS, bridges and jail, but remember we are using the taxpayer's money and not to take any unnecessarily."

Justices of the peace serve two-year terms and are paid $200 per meeting.

Early voting begins Oct. 22.

NW News on 10/15/2018

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