BENTONVILLE — Democrat Sam Slaton and Republican Joel Jones are competing for the Benton County Justice of the Peace District 8 seat.
Republican Shirley Sandlin, who holds the seat, didn’t seek reelection.
The district covers the east side of Bentonville.
Justices of the peace serve two-year terms. The Benton County Quorum Court is made up of 15 Republicans.
Quorum Court members are paid $244 for each Committee of the Whole meeting and Quorum Court meeting they attend, and $152 for each meeting of another committee they serve on, according to the county.
The general election is Nov. 3. Early voting starts Oct. 19. A voter may request an absentee ballot application by contacting the county clerk in the county where the voter is registered to vote, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State website. Voters may download the application from the county websites.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette emailed the same questions to the candidates. Their responses are below. Candidates were limited to 200 words per answer.
Question: Benton County’s share of tax revenue is expected to shrink after the census. Where can the county cut costs or raise revenue?
Jones: This was being discussed in finance when I was on the Quorum Court several years ago. The goal is to not have to make drastic changes based on the Census numbers.
The way this was discussed is by making the longterm decision to project a modest increase in revenue year over year and maintain expenses below that projection.
Done in that way over the span of several years, the county would be in a position to handle the drop in revenue based on the census without making cuts or looking for other revenue sources.
Slaton: Bicycling on dirt roads is becoming an increasingly popular pastime, so much so that people travel all over the country to access these roads. While they’re in the area, these folks spend money at hotels, Airbnbs, local restaurants, breweries, etc.
So one way we can cut costs is by amending our county road paving plan such that certain dirt roads will be preserved as such. In partnership with our local advertising and promotion bureaus and chambers of commerce, we can then leverage these networks of dirt roads — which tend to wind through some of the most beautiful parts of our county — as environmentally sustainable economic drivers for our smaller towns.
We can also save money by committing to not expanding the jail, opting instead to direct resources to diversionary programs, such as the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative or Peers Achieving Collaborative Treatment.
The former supports court-involved youth while the latter seeks to rehabilitate nonviolent drug offenders. Both are intended to empower people to become contributing members of society.
One of the ways that such a citizen contributes, of course, is through paying taxes. Win-win.
Question: What is the biggest challenge facing county government? How would you address it?
Slaton: The biggest challenge facing county government is the lack of constituent involvement in the decision-making process.
Over the past few years, the county has stepped up their game by increasing their social media presence and proactively disseminating information to constituents.
However, very few elected officials at the county level take it upon themselves to increase constituent engagement in the mechanisms of county government. (That’s why I’ve been working so hard to engage folks in conversations.)
As a result, too many decisions are made unanimously without any constructive conversation, debate and deliberation. (The 2018 decision to spend $60,000 of taxpayer money on unnecessary security improvements to the county admin building — which made it more difficult for taxpayers to access county services — is a particularly galling example.)
For this reason, too many concerns of Benton County residents go unheard. One example is accessible housing. Often considered the purview of cities, the county has a role to play as well.
An inclusionary zoning ordinance, for example, could help ensure that Benton County remains accessible not just to newcomers, but to folks who have called this area home for many years.
Jones: The biggest challenge facing Benton County is the ever-changing world and how the county will continue to best serve the people.
With the advent of covid, we have to continue to push the state to allow for changes in how the county is allowed to perform business.
We have to continue to move records, documents, and transactions into a digital and easy to consume space so that we can serve the most people in a way that is safe and convenient.
Question: What makes you the best candidate for this position?
Jones: My prior experience (8+ years as a justice of the peace in Benton County, District 7) puts me ahead of any competition.
I will be able to hit the ground running to serve the people in my district and all the people of Benton County.
Slaton: I’ll keep this answer relatively short and simple. I love this county, and I want to give back.
I’ve got energy, ideas and a broad range of personal and professional experiences that position me well not just to solve problems, but to create new opportunities.
Combine these assets with the input and experiences of my constituents, and I think we’ve got a winning formula to build a better Benton County.
Joel Jones (R)
• Age: 38
• Residency: Has lived in District 8 about two years
• Occupation: Works in information technology at Movista Inc.as a director-engineering; co-owns Brain Freeze Sno & Whips
• Education:
Bachelor of science in computer engineering, University of Arkansas
• Political: Served as justice of the peace in Benton County, District 7, 2011-18.
Sam Slaton (D)
Age: 33
Residency: Has lived in District 8 for almost four years.
• Employment: Teaches English and bicycle advocacy classes at Thaden School, Bentonville
• Education:
Master of fine arts in poetry, Brooklyn College, New York City; bachelor of arts in creative writing and philosophy, University of Arkansas
• Political Experience: Unsuccessful candidate for the justice of the peace, District 8 seat in 2018
Mike Jones may be reached by email at [email protected] .