Hudson Seeks To Continue As Mayor

Hudson
Hudson

PRAIRIE GROVE -- Mayor Sonny Hudson is seeking re-election to a fifth term as mayor of Prairie Grove.

Hudson first ran for election 17 years ago when then Mayor Andrew Bain moved outside of city limits. Hudson, who was on the City Council at the time, was one of four candidates seeking the vacant position in 2001 and was elected to fill the remainder of Bain's term.

Hudson, who served on the City Council for 13 years and has chaired both the city's Police Committee and Parks and Recreation Committee, has been a member of the Prairie Grove community for 39 years.

He graduated from high school in 1972 and has achieved several certifications and completed many courses over the years.

Hudson, 64, achieved the status of Certified Municipal Official in 2012, which includes training on every aspect of municipal government and has been recertified every year through continuing education classes.

As mayor, Hudson has represented Prairie Grove on several organizations, such as Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission and the Regional Mobility Authority. He is a current member of the Executive Committee for the Arkansas Municipal League.

Hudson's community involvement includes being a member of Prairie Grove First United Methodist Church for more than 30 years where he has served as a past chairman of the administrative board.

He has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for 38 years, is a past president and was named Citizen of the Year in 1991 by the Chamber. Hudson also is a member of Prairie Grove Lions Club, board member for Main Street Arkansas in Prairie Grove and charter member of Friends of Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park

The Enterprise-Leader asked the Prairie Grove mayoral candidates to answer the following questions about running for office?

Question: Why are you running for this position?

"It's the job I chose to do many years ago, but more importantly it's where my heart is and looking back at all the many accomplishments we have achieved over the past years makes me proud to say I live in Prairie Grove, Ark., the city that planned for the future and was ready when all our new citizens found out what a great place Prairie Grove is to live. And that's why I'm running for this position. We are still growing and still preparing for the future while protecting our historic past."

Question: What do you consider are some of your qualifications to serve as Mayor?

"Experience. I was an operation manager for Arkansas Western Gas Company in Prairie Grove/Lincoln and assistant operations manager for Fayetteville/Springdale before becoming mayor of Prairie Grove that prepared me in budgeting responsibilities directly supervising 45-plus employees. And the most important qualification is on the job training as mayor of Prairie Grove. The experience I have gained while being mayor and taking advantage of all the training made available through the Arkansas Municipal League that knows municipal business better than anyone. We have moved into newer larger City Hall, police and courts buildings that we paid off January of this year. We have moved into a newer larger maintenance facility that will be paid off next year. We have adequate emergency funds available. Experience and proven leadership and the desire to keep Prairie Grove moving forward. That's a few of my qualifications to serve as your mayor."

Question: Do you have ideas for local improvements that you think have not been discussed or considered publicly?

"I always have ideas along with the council, staff and citizens and we always discuss them in public before we can turn our ideas into assets for the citizens of Prairie Grove.

"An idea mentioned to me by one of our librarians that I have talked about in public, but not yet in a public meeting is the possibility of a small park in the green space east of the new library with children and their parents attending programs at the library. She mentioned the convenience of a small park. This is something we should be able to do in the near future."

Question: What do you see as some of the issues the city will be facing in the next 5-10 years?

"The issues we will face in the next 5-10 years are the same issues we face today, but as always we will face them head on. We, as all cities, have aging infrastructure, but what we are doing is an ongoing program of upgrading our infrastructure and that's easy to say, but this is what we have been doing."

Hudson listed many projects accomplished by the city in past years. These include:

• Began an in-house phased replacement of old water lines in the City in 2008.

• 2011 sales tax bond issue for water and sewer rehab for $3 million.

• Wastewater treatment plant upgrade and expansion project during 2006-2011 for $9 million.

• Water treatment plant upgrade project 2016-2018 for $2.15 million.

• Hydraulic analysis, future tank site study and descaling issue analysis, which began in early 2018.

Question: Is there any other information you would like to share about yourself as a candidate for elected office?

"I want to keep Prairie Grove moving forward. We have proven in the past what we can do. We are proving with current projects like the new public Library, Muddy Fork Park and nature trail, the over 3 miles of new or improved sidewalks completed in the last 3 years with current construction of sidewalks on Pittman street connecting downtown with the Prairie Grove Battlefield Park. Ready to bid the phase 2 Viney Grove Road drainage improvements project. We are moving forward and we are doing it responsibly."

General News on 10/17/2018