ERNEST PENDER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY

Ernest Pender has announced that he is a candidate for re-election to the Miller County District 6 Justice of the Peace.

Pender currently serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee. He has also served on the Jail Committee and Juvenile Detention Facility Committees.

"When I was first elected to the Quorum Court, Miller County was in poor financial condition and had difficulty paying the bills. One of the primary responsibilities of the Quorum Court is to create a budget and to make sure the county operates within that budget. I am very proud that Miller County finished fiscal year 2023 with a balance of over $500,000 in the General Fund and over $3,000,000 in General Fund Investments. The overall fund balance for Miller County at the end of 2023 was just over $16,000,000. In 2024 Miller County continues to operate in the black", Pender said.

Pender has worked with the Ar-tex Redi Group since its inception to find and secure a "shovel ready" industrial site to attract a major manufacturer to Miller County. Miller County, along with the City of Texarkana have financed the purchase of this site. The final phase of negotiations are in the works with the manufacturer that will bring a large number of new jobs to Miller County and Texarkana.

Pender is the owner and President of Pender Water Wells, which has served the water needs of the Texarkana area since 1955. He has served twice as President of the Arkansas Water Well Contractors Association. He served for ten years on the board of directors of the National Ground Water Association, serving three years as the Finance Chairman and served as the President of the NGWA in 2003. Pender was originally appointed to the Arkansas Water Well Construction Commission by Governor Mike Huckabee and was reappointed by every Governor thereafter until 2023 when the committee was merged in to the Natural Resources Commission.

"It has been a great honor to serve Miller County. I pledge to continue to use sound business practices and apply conservative principles to ensure that the taxpayers' moneys are wisely spent and that Miller County remains financially sound. I am thankful for the trust the voters of District 6 have placed in me and look forward to their continued support", Pender said.