Base quorum court reps on land, not population

The quorum court is a good system, if you live in a city. Using Fayetteville as an example, a resident of Fayetteville gets the benefit of two representatives: A justice of the peace for the county and someone on the city council. If a Fayetteville resident has a disagreement or needs a project approved, they have two different options for contacting a representative. Of the 15 JPs in Washington County, nine are from Fayetteville. Fayetteville is about one-eighth of the 952 square miles of Washington County, yet it has over half the JPs of the Quorum Court.

So, who runs Washington County? Fayetteville does. For those of us not in a city, we have our lives dictated by people who have no idea what goes on in rural portions of Washington County. Our roads are not paved. Our land use is controlled by Fayetteville’s JP majority. Our county taxes, if raised, can be done by a JP majority representing Fayetteville. And, a resident of Fayetteville gets to vote for a JP and a representative on the City Council. The state needs to change Quorum Court representation to a geographical make-up instead of a population make-up.

Allowing population centers to control all geographic areas leaves rural areas without basic representation. An example of why population centers should not be able to control all government is the Electoral College, presented in the Constitution. The Founders realized, if not placed in the Constitution, population centers would elect the president. The 2016 election verified this. Otherwise, the left and east coast would elect the president and vice president. Sadly, all other representation is set up by population.

The citizens of Fayetteville only care about the rural portion of the county when they need a place to ride their bikes. Having bike races on rural roads where farmers and ranchers are trying to harvest products or hay for cattle makes it very difficult. Why come out in the country to ride your bikes when you have a multi-million-dollar bike trail? These county roads are barely wide enough for two vehicles let alone having a large number of people on bikes taking up a lane. A rancher trying to bale hay before it gets rained on doesn’t need the delay.

I ask one favor of Fayetteville residents: Don’t curse me with your mouth full of certified all-natural and hormone-free steak I produce. BILL YANCEY

Prairie Grove