Two seek clerk seat
Two people are running for the Pea Ridge City Clerk position, a position which has never had opposition.
Sandy Button, 63, current city clerk, has held the position since 1985, except for a brief hiatus from 2000-05 when she moved out of the city limits.
Michael Kelley, 47, saying he wants to be involved in public service and local government, filed for the seat.
Button, who graduated from
Rogers High School in 1972 and moved to Pea Ridge, started work at the city of Pea Ridge in August 1977 and became the first Court Clerk in the city in November 1977. She holds three positions with the city — elected city clerk, hired office manager and hired court clerk. She also serves on the Pea Ridge School Board, an elected position.
“I have enjoyed working for the city of Pea Ridge for over 40 years,” Button said. “I have worked with such great people throughout the years and have developed lasting friendships. I am so proud to be part of a community where people truly care about each other.”
Hired as the first court clerk for Pea Ridge, Button continues as head court clerk currently. She was District Court Clerk of the Year for the State of Arkansas in 1999. A current member of the Pea Ridge School Board (since 2012), Button also served on the School Board from 1995-2000.
She has two grown sons, Brian and Bradley Easley, a daughter-in-law, Silvia Easley, and one grandson, Eli Easley.
Kelley, a native of Idaho, moved to Pea Ridge about three years ago. He said his wife has family in the area.
Formerly employed in anti-corruption compliance for Walmart, he said he is very detail oriented.
“I love Pea Ridge,” Kelley said. “There are lots of good things going on here and I think there are great possibilities. I look forward to opportunities to make the relationship of residents and City Hall a little better and make it a really positive experience when people go to City Hall.”
Kelley said he wants to look into the possibility of posting the City Council minutes on the city’s website and making sure there’s transparency between the voters and City Hall.
“I think I have the ability to connect with the people of Pea Ridge,” Kelley said, adding that he has children involved in the schools, in band, in sports and looks forward to being even more involved in the community.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications and broadcasting from Brigham Young University in Utah and worked in TV news for about eight years in Sacramento, Calif., “always behind the camera — on the technical side,” he said.
He and his wife, Wendie, have five children — Julia, 17; Tessa, 16; Elise, 13; Rees, 10; and Melanie, 8.