Packets available for board positions

The Hot Springs city clerk’s office says two people have picked up packets for the four city director positions up for election in November.

District 5 Director Karen Garcia and LaDante Walker picked up election packets the city made available Monday. The Hot Springs Board of Directors unanimously nominated Garcia last year to serve the remainder of Rick Ramick’s term. He resigned last May amid controversy over his residency qualification.

Garcia served as District 5 director from 2011-2014 after defeating Glenn Gallas and Ramick in the 2010 general election. In 2014, she was the Democratic nominee for state treasurer.

District 5 includes the 621 acres in the Lake Hamilton and Lakeland drives and Buena Vista Road

area the board annexed in 2016. Property owners in the area sued the city, petitioning the state Supreme Court last month to review the state Court of Appeals ruling from March that upheld a lower court decision dismissing the lawsuit. The litigation has prevented the city from enacting the annexation.

The board appointed Walker to the Transportation Advisory Committee last year. He lives in District 2, which, along with districts 4, 5 and the mayor’s at-large Position 7, is up for election in November.

The filing period opens July 27 and closes Aug. 17 at noon. Registered voters residing in the district they wish to represent for at least 30 days and who are 21 or older are eligible to file. Petitions for nomination have to include the signatures of 50 registered city voters.

Candidates are encouraged to collect 75 to 100 signatures in the event some are disqualified during the certification process. They are also required to file a statement of financial interest.

City director is an unpaid position with duties that include approving the city’s budget and setting its policies. The board serves as the city’s supreme legislative and executive body.