Meet the candidates

INSIDE:

Monday is the first day of (in-person) early voting for registered Arkansas voters. I won’t be the first in line tomorrow. Instead, I will let the storm surge pass and drop by the Vote Here Center before the end of the week.

There is no issue or any person on the ballot that will be able to sway my vote if I wait until Nov.

3, so why wait? Plus, I loathe long lines.

And although the national media and some noisy politicians want us to think that mail-in ballots won’t be safe, might not be counted or could be contested, I see no harm in voting that way. I certainly understand why some people would want to avoid face-to-face contact this year.

Either way you vote in Saline County, in person or by mail, you should have confidence in our county clerk, Doug Curtis, his staff and volunteers. Doug runs a great operation, and although it is a tough job, he makes it look easy.

I only know a few other county clerks in Arkansas, but I would think that the other 74 counties have competent, committed people running their elections just as we do. Overall, I think we should trust the election outcomes across the state the day(s) after the election.

So, enough about voting, let me give my opinion on the three proposed amendments to the Arkansas Constitution that are on the upcoming ballot. I want to do this partially because I care about the outcome of all three issues, but I also know that many people walk into the voting booth and may be prepared to vote on candidates, but may not be prepared to make an educated decision on these issues. After all, the wording on the ballots does not tell the whole story of how the issue got on the ballot and what it means in detail.

If you are not familiar with the three proposals but want to be, I highly recommend that you go to www.uaex.edu/ballot to get unbiased research-based information. This information is gathered and distributed by the Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Issue 1: 0.5% Sales Tax for State Highways and Bridges, County Roads, City Streets, Bridges and Other Surface Transportation.

The main things to know here: This is NOT a new tax or an increase on an existing tax. A vote FOR Issue 1 simply makes permanent an existing tax that is set to expire in 2023.

Also, our city and county roads need these resources to maintain the roads and bridges that you,

I and our school bus drivers use daily.

Finally, if the tax (a half a penny for every dollar you spend) goes away, our roads and bridges will still be here.

I will vote FOR Issue 1

Issue 2: Changing General Assembly Term Limits and Allowing Re-election Upon a Break in Service

On the surface it appears that we’ll be voting to decrease the years an elected state representative could serve from 16 to 12, but, upon further review, there are many loopholes in this proposal. If passed, the proposal would eliminate the current “lifetime limit,” allowing politicians to return to office after just four years out.

Two years ago, a term-limit proposal was placed on the statewide ballots by a Citizens’ Initiative. That proposal was struck down before voting started. This initiative has been placed on the ballot by the state legislature.

I will vote AGAINST Issue 2

Issue 3: Changing Arkansas’ Citizen Initiative Process, Votes Required for Legislative Proposals, and Public Requirements

Okay, no issue should have that many words in its title.

What you mainly see when you read the details of the proposal is that it will become much more difficult for citizens’ initiatives to get on the ballot. If passed, the number of counties where signatures would be required to be collected would grow from 15 to 45. It would also decrease the amount of time citizens have to collect signatures for ballot measure petitions by about six months.

But, hidden deeper inside this proposal is something the legislators don’t want you to see. Literally.

If passed, this proposal would eliminate the requirement that the state legislature inform the public by placing a paid notice in a newspaper in each county of the state before either of these two things happen:

• Constitutional Amendment changes

• Salary changes of statewide elected officials and legislatures

If passed, Issue 3 simply gives legislatures the freedom to give themselves raises without the public knowing. To be fair, instead of placing an ad in a newspaper, future proposals would be published “in a manner provided by law.”

Since I know who writes “the law,” I don’t think this is a good idea.

I will vote AGAINST Issue 3 Please be informed.

Please vote.