CANDIDATE PROFILE
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first installment of candidate profiles in Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors races. Early voting begins Oct. 22, and Primary Election Day is Nov. 6. The Gazette requested that candidates not exceed a character limit on each question to provide fairness and equality in coverage and article length. Aside from minor changes and editing, the candidate responses are being printed as submitted.
In this installment, the Ward 5 race is highlighted between incumbent Barbara S. Miner and Christopher Voan. Voan did not return a completed questionnaire to the Gazette. Board of Directors races are nonpartisan, meaning canddiates do not declare a political party.
Barbara S. Miner (incumbent) BIOGRAPHICAL Spouse, children and/or other family:
Two sons: Dr. Quinton Miner Jr., his wife, Stacey; Derek Miner Age: 74
Years a Texarkana, Ark., resident:
74
Highlight your top three degrees and/or educational achievements:
Texarkana, Ark., High School; University of Arkansas, BSE; Henderson State Univ., MSE
List your current job/employer and your top three occupational achievements:
I have for 25-plus years been the owner/manager of rental property. My other public work was as an elementary teacher for 12 years: Kilpatrick Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Genoa Central Elementary. Mr. Edward Trice hired me fresh out of college, and I enjoyed those years in the classroom.
Highlight the top three examples of your civic or community service:
Most of my civic experience has actually been church related. I served several years as Race for the Cure team coordinator for Beech Street First Baptist Church. I served as a volunteer with my church on a mission trip to Honduras. Oh, I then learned even more how blessed and great our county is!
Highlight the top three examples of your political experience:
I am completing a four-year term as a board member. My parents were always interested in politics, following local city and county races. My mother and father had a business in the 1930s that one board member, Mr. Jack Kirby, ruled in favor of our family. From that, I knew that board decisions were of importance.
POLITICAL
Why are you running for office?
One can never know all about the city because of the complexity and large body of information within it. If anyone thinks it is simple, I invite them to run for an office. I served on the Criminal Detention Facility Review Committee, appointed by former Gov. Mike Huckabee.
What are your top three goals if elected?
Business. Beautification. Revenue producing. Not necessarily in that order.
ISSUES
What are the three most important issues facing the city?
More revenue (which includes wanting people to pay their property taxes).
How do you propose addressing those issues?
If I knew the answer to this, I would be very happy and make others happy too.
What are the most important issues specific to your ward?
I get many calls about street issues, over-grown lawns and creeks, houses that are falling down and abandoned, basketball goals improperly placed at/ near streets, and people in general who do not keep junk from accumulating around their houses. All of these are issues that are difficult to address and correct.
How do you propose addressing those issues?
Our Public Works Department, specifically with Code Enforcement, is a hard-working machine. They take calls from me and you, the public, can report issues to them. They do respond.
What should the Board of Directors do to stimulate economic development and bring new jobs to Texarkana?
Our part in attracting more retail businesses and industry is to make known that we want them. We must then convince them that our market is strong enough to sustain success in a positive environment. Citizens, myself included, must make more of an effort to support Arkansas-side retail and restaurants. Support your locals as much as possible. If you already do that, then I thank you!
What should be done to increase local voter turnout and encourage more candidates to run in city elections?
I have asked many people through my almost four-year term if he or she would run for office, and the answer is, “No.” They feel that it is difficult at best, time-consuming, and more than they want to add to their already heavy load of responsibility. Board involvement has allowed me to meet many great people.
If elected, would you revisit the decision to rename Hobo Jungle Park? What, if anything, would you propose regarding the park?
I would not revisit this issue. My parents owned property there that was taken by the eminent domain process. I went there many times in my childhood years and it was a happy experience, but I feel the issue is best put to rest.
What, if any, city programs or personnel would you add or eliminate, and why?
(No reply).
How satisfied are you with the transparency of city government? What, if anything, should the Board of Directors do to improve transparency?
The board cannot really do anything that is not transparent. I know some disagree with that, but my feeling is that we have served well in that aspect.
What role should city government play in financing and promoting downtown festivals such as RailFest and Mardi Gras?
We can support these and other events as financing allows.
If elected, what would you do to promote civility among board members and throughout city government?
I suppose some disagree, but I feel that mostly the board and other city government agencies have performed in a dignified, civil manner.