Eight apply for open seat on Springdale City Council

SPRINGDALE — Eight residents of Springdale had applied as of Friday to fill an empty seat on the City Council. The Committee of the Whole is expected to consider the applicants during its committee meeting tonight, but might not make an appointment.

The deadline for applications is 4 p.m. today, said Mayor Doug Sprouse.

Council member Colby Fulfer resigned the Ward 1, Position 2 on Feb. 29 when his family moved out of the ward.

Ward 1 covers north central and northwest Springdale.

The applicants are diverse, including a community activist, a pastor, a member of the city’s Planning Commission and a former council member. Three say they can represent the Hispanic community. The slate includes three women.

Any person who completes Fulfer’s term will have to be elected to a four-year term to continue serving, City Attorney Ernest Cate said. All but two of the applicants to fill the term that expires Dec. 31 said they are considering a run for the seat in November’s general election.

The following people notified the mayor’s office of their interest in the position:

• Wendy Cassady, a speech pathologist and owner of Cassady Children’s Center.

• Alice Gachuzo-Colin, an education paraprofessional and founder and director of the Springdale Martin Luther

King Jr. Day Parade and Unity Celebration.

• Randall John Harriman, vice president of business development for Signature Bank in Arkansas. He is a board member of the Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation.

• Joel Hernandez, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Bella Esperanza/Beautiful Hope Baptist Church.

• Jim Reed, former member of the City Council and retired construction supervisor for Springdale Public Schools.

• Ashley Robinson, founder and lead storyteller for Interrobang, a marketing company.

• Kyle Rockett, director of strategic accounts in the dedicated contract services division of J.B. Hunt Transportation.

• Alvin Dale Tyler, member of the Planning Commission and an electrician retired from AEP Southwestern Electric Power.

The council hasn’t decided yet if it will fill the position.

The position can remain open or the council can appoint someone if the open seat expires in less than a year, according to state law, Cate said.

Council members March 2 discussed leaving the position open because of the short time left on the term. They postponed a decision and advertised the position.

Council member Jeff Watson said Friday he remained open to filling the seat, but might want to delay a decision. The disruptions resulting from the efforts to stop the spread of the covid-19 and the short length of the remaining term might be reasons to leave it unfilled, he said.

Watson also voiced concern about the choice of a person who planned to run for the position in the November election. He said such an appointment might be seen as the council favoring a candidate.

Council member Rick Evans spoke Friday in favor of filling the position. The city’s growth and the effects of covid-19 on the city’s sales tax revenues means the city will face some big decisions, he said. A person in the seat could help make those decisions.