Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Moehring wins re-election bid
BENTONVILLE — County Judge Barry Moehring rolled to a re-election win Tuesday in county elections that returned all incumbents.
Moehring, a Republican, defeated Ronnie L. Smith, a Libertarian.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were:
Moehring . . . . . . . 54,660 (74%) Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,383 (26%)
Moehring, 52, was one of eight incumbents in Benton County government to win re-election.
This will be Moehring’s second term as county judge. This term will be a four-year term. His first term was two years. The county judge is paid $100,556 per year.
Moehring said previously he wants another term to continue the work he has started.
“The issues I ran on are issues today: better planning, financial stewardship and higher professional standards,” he said. “There’s always going to be things we need to do. There’s no end to them.”
Moehring said one example of better planning is the adoption of a new model for the Road Department to set the annual work program and to prioritize projects. The county hired a firm to drive all of its paved roads and do a video assessment of their condition. An evaluation of the work needed followed, and the work program was developed based on that information.
Moehring said plans for a new courts facility also show better planning and concern for taxpayers’ money. The county plans a $30 million building on Second Street in downtown Bentonville. The Quorum Court has formulated a funding plan based on a temporary, one-eighth-cent sales tax as the main funding component. That funding proposal is expected to be put to the voters in March 2019.
Moehring also has said he wants to improve the efficiency of government and reduce costs.
BENTON COUNTY ASSESSOR
Incumbent Roderick Grieve, a Republican, defeated
Rey Hernandez, a Democrat.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Grieve . . . . . . . . . . 52,322 (69%) Hernandez. . . . . . . 23,334 (31%)
With recent changes in state law, the assessor will serve a four-year term beginning in 2019. Benton County’s assessor is paid $94,656 per year.
Grieve, 62, has more than 30 years of experience working in the Northwest Arkansas real estate market as an appraiser, broker, property manager and as county assessor for the past two years. He said previously his experiences in business and living in the area motivate him to seek public office.
He said the Assessor’s Office works under rules and regulations set by the state, limiting the flexibility of assessors. He said as an assessor he needs to be able to understand those rules and work to keep them current and relevant.
Hernandez, 68, works for DSI Security at Northwest Health Systems and as security supervisor for Willow Creek Women’s Hospital.
The salary for the county assessor is 94,657.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 3
In District 3, Republican Debra Hobbs will make a return to the Quorum Court.
Hobbs defeated Libertarian Trina Wilson, a political newcomer, was seeking her first term.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Hobbs . . . . . . . . . . . 3,035 (68%) Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,443 (32%)
Hobbs, 63, is a Republican and former justice of the peace. She owns Hart Tackle Co.
J.D. Hayes, the justice of the peace for District 3, was appointed to the position and wasn’t eligible to run for the seat.
District 3 is in southwestern Rogers.
“God has given me a heart for service and policy,” Hobbs said previously. “I do not like the politics involved, but I love working on policy and constituent service.”
Hobbs questions the use of a sales tax increase to pay for the county’s proposed $30 million courts building.
Wilson, 42, a political newcomer, was seeking her first term. She is the mobile pantry coordinator for the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 5
Republican Carrie Perrien Smith defeated Democrat Parker Zielinski in District 5.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,947 (58%) Zielinski . . . . . . . . . 1,406 (42%)
Mike Jeffcoat, who holds the seat, was appointed to fill an unexpired term and was not eligible to run for the position.
District 5 includes parts of Rogers east of Interstate 49 and south of U.S. 62.
Smith, 53, has run unsuccessfully for Rogers city offices on three occasions. She earlier said she saw the opening on the Quorum Court as a way to serve much of the same constituency.
“I know a lot of the JPs, and I was always intrigued by the work they do,” Smith previously said. “This is a chance to still serve the city of Rogers, but on the county level.”
Zielinski, 38, is an information technology project support contractor.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 6
Incumbent Justice of the Peace Pat Adams, a Republican, secured a fourth term on the court in District 6.
Adams defeated Democrat Brie Madden, a Democrat.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Adams . . . . . . . . . . . 3,636 (72%) Madden. . . . . . . . . . 1,403 (28%)
The district includes northeastern parts of Rogers and the area around Pea Ridge.
Adams said previously he sought re-election because there are unfinished projects he wants to see through to completion.
“I’m pretty well pleased with what we’ve accomplished,” he said. “It’s a good Quorum Court, and we’ve done a good job.”
Adams, 63, is the owner of Adams Excavations. Madden, 35, is a national underwriter for Stewart Title.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 7
Incumbent Justice of the Peace Joel Jones, a Republican, won another term.
Jones defeated Matthew A. Kezhaya, a Democrat, and and Joseph Bollinger, a Libertarian.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,113 (63%) Kezhaya . . . . . . . . . 1,899 (29%) Bollinger. . . . . . . . . . . . 492 (8%)
Jones, 36, is a senior product manager for Movista, a mobile workforce management firm. Kezhaya, 30, is a lawyer with Pinnacle Law Group in Rogers. Bollinger, 35, is a systems engineer with Tektrendz.
The district includes eastern Bella Vista and the area southeast toward Bentonville.
Jones said previously he has some unfinished business as a justice of the peace, pointing to the county’s proposed $30 million courts facility. The county has adopted a building design and a location on Second Street in downtown Bentonville.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 8
Incumbent Shirley Sandlin, a Republican, won another term in District 8.
Sandlin defeated Democrat Sam Slaton and Libertarian Jeff Wadlin. Sandlin is retired from Benton County where she served as assessor. Slaton is a teacher at the Thaden School in Bentonville. Wadlin is on the membership team with Sam’s Club.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Sandlin . . . . . . . . . . . 2,158 (54%) Slaton. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,625 (41%) Wadlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 (5%)
District 8 includes parts of northwestern Bentonville.
Sandlin said previously she wants another term on the court because the county has several projects underway she would like to see to completion, especially the proposed $30 million courts building.
She said she is satisfied with the building design, and she favors the temporary oneeighth sales tax increase.
“I don’t see Benton County slowing down as far as our growth. Certainly Bentonville is growing. With that, the need for court facilities is growing,” she previously said. “I would like to know that our justice system is going to be prepared for that.”
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 9
Incumbent Susan Anglin, a Republican, defeated Cody Martin, the Libertarian candidate.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Anglin . . . . . . . . . . . 4,629 (72%) Martin............ 1,757(28%)
Anglin, 63, said previously she sees the county and her district growing and changing and county government needs to be able to change with it. Anglin is a beef and dairy farmer.
Martin, 27, is a resolutions specialist for store support with Walmart.
The district includes parts of western Bentonville, parts of Centerton and some of the area west of Centerton.
Anglin said previously she sees the county and her district growing and changing and county government needs to be able to change with it.
“There’s always going to be discussion of how do we manage the money and take care of the needs we have,” she said during the campaign. “We have to keep our eyes and ears open and make the best decisions we can with the information we have.”
Anglin said she thinks the county has made progress
modernizing the Road Department and controlling costs there and in other areas, including rural ambulance service. She said the ambulance service is an example of the kind of service the county needs to provide. Voters approved a millage to pay for the service.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 11
In District 11, newcomer Dustin Todd, a Republican, defeated Democrat Susie S. Kuilan.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Todd. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,280 (77%) Kuilan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 979 (23%)
Bob Bland, the incumbent, did not seek re-election. District 11 covers most of the northwestern corner of Benton County, including Gravette and Decatur.
Todd said previously his background in law enforcement prompted him to seek other areas where he could serve the public.
He said he supports the sales tax funding plan and the decision to have the plan go to voters.
Todd, 30, is the assistant branch manager in Riggs Caterpillar in Springdale.
Kuilan, 52, is the associate dean with the strategic security and protection program with North American University.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 12
Incumbent Adriane Carr, a Republican, defeated Jacob Faught, a Libertarian.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Carr............. 2,878(79%) Faught . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772 (21%)
District 12 includes parts of Siloam Springs, Gentry and some of western Benton County. Carr, 67, is a retired human resources consultant. Faught, 34, is a risk analyst with Walmart.
Carr said she supports the building and the temporary, oneeighth cent sales tax being considered as a funding mechanism.
“I think due diligence was done,” Carr said of the design work on the building. “I think the judges, who are among the most important people who will be using the building, have been key partners in the process.”
Carr said she supports the sales tax proposal, particularly since it included a “sunset” provision so the tax will expire after the building is paid for.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT 15
In District 15, incumbent Republican Joel Edwards defeated Democrat Asele Mack.
The complete but unofficial vote totals were: Edwards . . . . . . . . . . 4,179 (67%) Mack . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,059 (33%)
District 15 includes parts of northwestern Bentonville and the area west to Bella Vista, Gravette and Centerton.
Edwards, 51, who is in his first term on the Quorum Court, said previously he wants to continue working to provide a check on county officials in their spending and how they provide the services county government offers.
Edwards said he supports the proposed $30 million courts building, but had reservations about the temporary, one-eighth cent sales tax to fund it and about having the plan put to a vote in a March special election.
Edwards is a business analyst manager with Arvest Bank.
Mack, 51, is a librarian at Northwest Arkansas Community College.