Crabtree files for sixth term in office

Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree filed for re-election shortly after noon Monday, July. 30. Crabtree was first elected in 1994 and took office in January 1995 when the mayor’s position was still part-time.

“We have some things I’d like to see get finished getting done — wastewater plant, Hazelton Street, city and school,” Crabtree said Tuesday. “We’re working together with them (school officials) — Hazelton Road getting them paved, working out details on that … turn lanes, where, if — things like that.”

The mayor’s position became a full-time position in 2004. The population of Pea Ridge in 1995 was about 1,600, Crabtree said, and there were about 15 city employees. Now, with a population pushing 6,000, there are 40 city employees, he said.

“I think my years of experience and background with what’s going on with the city and the planning that’s been done” are assets, Crabtree said. “I know the details that have been done for the future.”

Crabtree, 64, is a 1972 graduate of Bentonville High School and retired from Walmart Information Systems. He was a business analyst. He said the business analyst piece had to do with research

to “make sure what we were doing was the right thing to do — pieces fit together.”

He considers working with school officials to create and build the combined City Hall/School Administration building his greatest achievement.

Crabtree served as president of the Arkansas Municipal League from 2013-14, a position that helped him in “dealing with people, working with individuals” and gave him a better understanding of legislative law.

“We’ve always used the Municipal League from day one, as far as going to meetings and using them for reference, for information,” he said.

During the past 24 years, the city has grown and the use of technology has increased.

“It’s not just been me. It’s been a bunch of people working together,” Crabtree said, recalling when the city made “a really big investment” and began using radio read meters in the Water Department. He said prior to that, it took all of the employees of both the Water and Street departments to drive around the town and read meters. Now, one person with a laptop can drive through the town getting all the meter readings.

“We’ve done all that with the Water Department, established the city website — a lot of things,” he said. “If you really look at it, it all blends together. You have to step back and remember where we came from to see where we are right now.”

“It’s a privilege serving the community. It’s an honor and a privilege,” he said.

Crabtree and his wife, Freida, have a son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.

The positions for mayor in Garfield and Gateway are also up for election. There are two Pea Ridge City Council positions up for election as well as four Council positions in Garfield and five in Gateway. The position for City Clerk in Pea Ridge is also up for election. It is currently held by Sandy Button.

Candidate filings

The following candidates filed for municipal offices on Monday.

Benton County Gateway

Position 1 Don Deckard*

Pea Ridge

Mayor

Jackie Crabtree* * denotes incumbent Filing for municipal elections closes Aug. 17. The nonpartisan election will be Nov. 6.

Ballot Draw to be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 23, by Benton County Election Commission.