City Council selects Paxton for city clerk

FAYETTEVILLE — A former claims specialist with the Social Security Administration will serve as city clerk until at least the end of next year.

Kara Paxton, 37, was selected Thursday by the City Council to serve the rest of the term held by Sondra Smith, who died last month at age 65.

Paxton started work at the Social Security Administration in 2010 as a service representative in Fort Smith, then became a claims specialist in 2015, working in Fayetteville, according to her application. She processed disability applications and navigated income and resource requirements of the Supplemental Security Income program, prioritizing case loads.

Paxton told the council she joined the military at 18 and has a background in managing data and implementing governmental policies. She received a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology from Arkansas

State University and a master’s degree in information systems management from American Sentinel University.

Paxton most recently worked as a voucher program specialist for the Fayetteville Housing Authority, starting in January. She said she resigned last month from the position with the intention to run for city clerk.

Smith was a true public servant, Paxton said. It will be Paxton’s mission to continue that professionalism and customer service for the city, she said.

“One of my No. 1 goals is to go in and assess the needs of the office, provide service and to provide support for the other employees in the office,” Paxton said.

Paxton’s first day of work will be Dec. 2. Deputy City Clerk Lisa Branson is serving in the interim.

The term ends Dec. 31, 2020. Paxton will be eligible to run for a four-year elected term after that.

Council Member Sloan Scroggin said he appreciated Paxton’s dedicated approach to the position. She’ll fit in with a staff already doing outstanding work, he said.

“If there was somebody who was angry, I don’t think they could be angry at her,” Scroggin said.

The council also interviewed three other candidates: Rob Qualls, a system administrator at Washington Regional Medical Center; William Chesser, a science department head at Fayetteville Public Schools; and Kirsten Elliott, director of philanthropy for the virtual nonprofit Center for Election Science. Thirty people applied for the position.

Paxton received six votes from the council. Qualls received

two.

The salary for a newly elected or appointed city clerk is the same as it was for the previous clerk, per city code. Paxton’s salary

will be $90,022. The City Clerk’s Office has a staff of six people.

The city clerk is the primary record keeper for the city.

Paxton is married to Kris Paxton, who serves on the Planning Commission.

Paxton