FAYETTEVILLE -- Two Washington County justice of the peace candidates discussed the financial issues facing the county during a candidates' forum on Friday at the Fayetteville Public Library.
Republican and incumbent Robert Dennis, 67, is running against Democrat Andrea Jenkins for the District 10 seat, which represents residents of Farmington, rural areas around Farmington and Prairie Grove and the southwest areas around Fayetteville near the University of Arkansas's Baum Stadium.
Quorum Court
The Quorum Court is the legislative body of county government and is comprised of 15 members called Justices of the Peace elected to two-year terms. Each Justice of the Peace represents a district of roughly equal population.
Source: Staff report
Dennis has served on the Quorum Court for four years. He has worked in grocery sales for around 50 years and has lived in Washington County nearly his entire life, he said.
Jenkins is a third-grade teacher at Farmington's Jerry "Pop" Williams Elementary School and also drives a school bus. She has been a resident of Farmington for the last 12 years.
The biggest financial issue facing the county is the diminishing reserve, Jenkins said in response to an audience member's question at the forum.
"It's not sustainable," she said. "We have to do something to figure out how not to end in a landfall after each year and that our budget is sound. We need to do whatever we need to do to make that happen."
Jenkins suggested that both the general and road millages could be higher.
Dennis responded that the biggest financial issue is the cost of running the Washington County Detention Center.
People are sleeping on the floor at the jail and that's unacceptable, he said. One inmate costs about $62 to house daily and those costs quickly add up. The state should reimburse the county more for these costs, and if not, it might be better for some of those who are currently being put in jail to pay a fine instead, Dennis said.
"I do not want to raise taxes. I'd like to keep it at the lowest in Arkansas, like it is now," Dennis said.
Jenkins has always been interested in the political process and decided to run for the county position to serve the most number of people in the area she loves, she said.
Her passion lies in maintaining the quality of the roads and funding animal services, said.
"There are opportunities this November to make changes on the Quorum Court and to bring fresh perspectives," Jenkins said. "As much as Mr. Dennis has said members of the court get along, those who have been to meetings have seen how much that is not the case."
The Quorum Court will have at least seven new justices of the peace after this election, and it will need some experienced members to remain in office, Dennis said.
"It takes a few years to get your feet on the ground and know what you are doing," he said. "I think I'm in my prime, and I will be able to be even more help."
Dennis is for property rights being protected and being more permissive about what someone can and cannot do with their property than the court has been. He also thinks more emphasis needs to be placed on making sure sewers are handled properly to protect the county's rivers and lakes, he said.
Justices of the peace serve two-year terms and are paid $200 per meeting night.
The election is Nov. 6. Early voting begins Oct. 22.
General News on 09/19/2018