BENTONVILLE -- Two Bella Vista Republicans with political experience will meet in the March primary for District 7 Benton County justice of the peace.
Doug Farner and Joseph Bollinger are the candidates. No Democrat filed for the position.
The seat is held by Jerry Snow of Bella Vista, but he can't run for the position because he was appointed in 2019.
The district covers all of east Bella Vista, some of north Bentonville and the county in between.
Farner, who has served on the Bella Vista Property Owners Association Board of Directors and the Bella Vista City Council, said the three major issues the county faces are adding more courtroom space, jail expansion and traffic congestion at McNelly Road and U.S. 71 at the south end of Bella Vista.
"The first two items will require considerable planning, which is under way by the county staffs," he said. "The biggest problems will be how to finance the projects. I do not want to increase the tax burden on citizens, but some tough decisions will need to be made once all options are explored."
Farner said he is the best candidate because of his experience in planning and budgeting and in public and government service.
Bollinger, who ran unsuccessfully for the District 7 seat in 2018, said the county needs to address courthouse and jail expansion.
He said he is the best candidate because he will work for fiscally conservative solutions to issues to avoid increasing taxes. He promised never to support special elections unless there is a legitimate emergency. Those elections waste tax dollars to carry out and stifle voter turnout, he said.
"I will make sure that my constituents' voices are heard by holding monthly sit-downs in my district so I can listen to their issues and meet with them one on one, addressing their concerns or getting in touch with the person who can," he said.
Justices of the peace serve two-year terms. The primary election is March 3 and the general election is Nov. 3.
Quorum Court members are paid $244.55 for each Committee of the Whole meeting and Quorum Court meeting they attend, and $152.85 for each meeting of another committee they serve on, according to the county.
Doug Farner
Age: 80
Residency: Bella Vista. He has lived in the district for 17½ years
Employment: Retired in 2002. Farner established, owned and operated a property management business in the north Dallas area
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, the Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
Political experience: Vice chairman of the Bella Vista Planning Commission. Elected to the first Bella Vista City Council in 2007 and served for three terms. Elected to the Bella Vista Property Owners Board of Directors in 2005
Joseph Bollinger
Age: 36
Residency: Bella Vista. He has lived in the district for six years
Employment: Systems engineer for Decision Science and small-business owner
Education: Associate degree in computer information systems from Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale
Political Experience: Ran unsuccessfully for the District 7 seat in 2018. He is the past chairman of the 3rd Congressional District Young Republicans, Benton County Young Republicans and Northwest Arkansas Young Republicans.
NW News on 02/11/2020