BENTONVILLE -- Bentonville District Judge Ray Bunch is seeking his third term.
Bunch, 66, hears cases for Bentonville, Bella Vista, Pea Ridge and Cave Springs. He was elected to the position in 2011.
He said he has maintained a DUI Court for Benton County, along with applying and being awarded federal grants totaling $105,000 for extended staff training. He established a mediation program for civil cases and an alternate court known as "community court" allowing certain individuals to receive life skills resources.
Bunch received his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Arkansas.
He was a lawyer for the Arkansas Department of Corrections after graduating from law school. He was a deputy prosecutor for Benton County and Carroll County from 1980 to 1984.
Bunch had a private practice in Rogers from 1984 to 2013 handling both civil and criminal cases.
He has been a Bella Vista resident since 1998.
He is a member of the Benton County Bar Association.
Elections in Arkansas for district judges are nonpartisan. The 2020 election will be March 3. Runoffs will be on the general election ballot in November.
The term for district judges is four years, and the annual salary is $147,084.
NW News on 08/24/2019