Rick Edrington
Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors Ward 2
Biographical
Spouse and children: Wife, Mary Ann Edrington; son, Chris Edrington; daughter, Melanie West Age: 63 Years a Texarkana, Ark., resident: 63 Highlight top three degrees and/or educational achievements: Graduated Arkansas High 1971
College classes at Texarkana College
List current job/employer and top three occupational achievements: When this is published, I will be retired after 10-plus years at Commercial National Bank.
Previous 19 years Kansas
City Southern Railroad, switchman-brakeman.
Highlight top three examples of your civic or community service: Founding member City Church Texarkana, USA
Former Boy Scout leader
Former member of Miller County Fair Assocation
Highlight top three examples of your political experience: After much reflection and living my whole life in Texarkana, Ark., I have decided to run for the city board position. Over the years, I have come to see that there is a total disconnect from the city leaders towards the people of the ward.
Political
Why did you run for office? I see and hear my neighbors screaming for answers but never getting resolutions for the most basic services such as street repairs and rundown neighborhoods. We need to be a city that has pride and will set an example to our children that they would wish to stay here and live their lives.
What are your top three goals, if elected? Streets and maintenance The police and fire department Ordinances that respect our citizens’ rights and general fairness to apply across the board. Saw a need for someone seeking answers, not more problems.
What are the three greatest issues facing the city? Our city is in steep decline because of a lack of pride. Property taxes and fines seem to never get to solving the general needs. Funds collected seem to be spent on just a few land developments while ignoring the remaining wards.
Police and fire parity issues. Growth and opportunities.
How should these be addressed? First, I would hold a ward town hall meeting to get the issues on the table. Let citizens voice their needs directly. Solutions would grow from that process. We can always make this a regular occurrence.
Fully fund the police and fire department pay issue: Simply bring up the measure and force the settlement of this long-standing issue.
Growth and opportunities: We can only hope that being transparent, showing pride in our downtown and our region and by lowering taxes, that we can then attract a new wave of investors that will create new funding sources.
The Issues
Would you support a tax increase to keep Arkansas-side police officers’ and firefighters’ salaries commensurate with those on the Texas side? Why or
why not? No. New tax increases are not the answer. The city passed measures long ago to settle this issue, but due to mismanagement, the funds have been put toward the general fund. This is a issue that needs more attention, however this can be delt with without a tax increase.
If elected, what would you do to protect Texarkana’s water rights
and resources? Everything in my power to protect our present and future water rights. I plan to never sell our rights in any way, period.
What is city government’s role in maintaining good relations between police and the community? We must first have total trust between the city board and the police department. Once we gain that, the sky is the limit as to building more neighborhood security throughout our town. Possibly start monthly nights out to get the people involved. We have to show our love and total support to them and their families.
What changes, if any, would you make to the city’s animal control services, and why? The city, along with volunteers and good Samaritans, have made some headway lately. This is a prime example of the two Texarkanas working together for a common cause. I am open to citizens’ suggestions and concerns.
How can the two Texarkanas work together better to benefit
residents? Since all of our issues cross the state line, we must stop the madness of one-upmanship; it serves no purpose for the citizens, and it has proved to be very costly. Let’s build our pride back. Solve our water, police, fire department and animal control issues before we move on to anything else.
What should the city do about
derelict buildings downtown? The problem of derelict buildings is a citywide issue, not just downtown. We need to promote homeownership. Establish communications with all landowners, possibly creating a program. Erase fines. We would then have a level playing field. It will still be up to the landowner to meet code, but this gives them a second chance.