‘Politics’ Category
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Democrat JPs To Square Off in Primary
4March 15, 2012 by wcobserver
WASHINGTON COUNTY – Local Democratic candidates are going to be busy this election season. Candidates for county, state and national positions were required to file their intent to run by March 1 and Justice of the Peace races will see several Democrats go head-to- head in the primaries.
Read More...Category County, Elections 2012, News | Tags: Elections 2012, Justices of the Peace
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Water Commission Vacancy Lingers
0March 15, 2012 by Steve Winkler
The commission added two new members, Andy Baughman and Joe Toher in July. One volunteer, Joe DeSoto was rejected as a potential commissioner because he is related to the chairman. Another, Tony Alvarado was rejected because he is a member of the Police Commission, according to Michael “Butch” Bartholomew, Utility Superintendent. Former City Clerk Susan Cooney whose name appears on the June 29 list said she submitted her name to Mayor Hime who gave it to the Water Commission. “I never heard anything back from them even though they said they would contact people,” wrote Cooney in an email reply to an Observer inquiry. West Fork resident Wes Eckles, who wrote a letter saying he was willing to serve on the Water Commission and whose name appears on the original list told the Observer, “They never did anything. Never called, I never talked to Virgil Blackmon. They didn’t take any action. I never heard from this commission.” Eckles has since volunteered to be considered for a vacancy on the Planning Commission. West Fork property owner Caroline Smith’s name appears on the list of individuals interested is being considered for appointment to the commission. She told the Observer that she made …
Read More...Category News, Politics, West Fork | Tags: Virgil Blackmon, Wastewater Utility Commission, West Fork
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Shift in Parties?
4March 8, 2012 by Matthew Jones
In Arkansas politics, one could just assume that the democrats would win out. That they would be the majority in power in both chambers in Little Rock. That could all change in 2012. Filing has closed and the list of official candidates are in. There are 7 districts for the House of Representatives in Washington County, 87-89, 92-94 and 97. In districts 87, 92, 93, and 94, there are only Republicans either running unopposed or against other Republicans. In 88 and 89 there is one Democrat facing one Republican while in 97 there are two Republicans facing off against one Democrat. In 87, Rep. Jonathan Barnett, 57, of Siloam Springs, who is a general contractor, runs unopposed. In 88, Randy Alexander (R), of Springdale, who is a businessman will run against Edwin Sugg (D), 52, also of Springdale, who is an engineer. In 89, Micah S. Neal (R) of Springdale will run against Inez Yesenia Hernandez (D), 35, also of Springdale, who is a safety manager. In 92, Jim Parsons (R) of Bella Vista will face Rep. Mary Lou Slinkard (R), 68, of Gravette, who is a retired Benton County Clerk. There is no Democratic challenger. In 93, Jim Dotson …
Read More...Category WashCo Politics 2012 | Tags: politics
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Spanish Speakers Still Without Voter Registration Forms
0February 28, 2012 by Jack Suntrup
Partisan proxy wars concerning the 2012 election process are underway. Spanish-speaking citizens in Northwest Arkansas are still without up-to-date voter registration forms, said Maria Hicks, the Vice Chair of the Third District Democrat Hispanic Caucus. The oversight is causing confusion and could be in violation of the Federal Voting Rights Act and the Arkansas Constitution. “They’re not available … they have no forms in Spanish,” said Hicks, who is running for Washington County Justice of the Peace, District 7. “I was just there today and they said they were working on getting me the Spanish one. I told them it was a violation of the state constitution and they were surprised by that.” When Hicks had the same problem on Feb. 27, she said she called the Secretary of State’s office and was told that they were working on translating a new version. “They are going to be made available,” said Alex Reed, a spokesman for the Secretary of State. “What the issue was was they made some changes with the voter registration application, and so we’re working on getting them translated. But we are going to make them available and going to make them available shortly.” Though there are …
Read More...Category County, Elections 2012, News | Tags: Democrats Hispanic Caucus, Elections 2012, Maria Hicks, politics
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Democrats Preparing for Another Tea Party Uprising
3February 28, 2012 by Jack Suntrup
While the Tea Party seemed like a surprise guest during the 2010 election, this time around, local Democrats are ready for a fight. “We had no clue the tidal wave of GOP and Tea Party that would take us out,” said Tyler Clark, Washington County Democratic Committee chairman. With help from local and national Tea Party groups, Republicans made historic gains from the County level to the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2010 election. But, as the 2012 election draws near, the question is whether or not the Tea Party can duplicate the successes it had two years ago. Issue after issue, the uncompromising Tea Party is what will drive the Democratic base in 2012, Clark said. Clark believes that a “number of people are pissed off, so we are coming back with a vengeance. We spent the last couple of years getting really organized.” Part of the county party’s strategy is preparing earlier this year. Typically, the election office headquarters does not open until July; this year it will open next month. Event fundraising, too, is starting earlier, he said. Clark also wants to be more efficient in explaining his party’s platform. Coordinating closer with the state party …
Read More...Category Elections 2012, News | Tags: democrats, Elections 2012, politics, Washington County
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