‘WashCo Politics 2012’ Category
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DEAD END: Washington County citizens vote against transit tax
3May 23, 2012 by Matthew Jones
Washington County doesn’t want to expand funding for the Ozark Regional Transit. The vote of Washington County went to the polls yesterday, May 22, and had their voices heard loud and clear. Those against the vote won out, by 64 percent, widely beating the 36 percent in favor of raising the sales tax to fund ORT route expansion. “The purpose of the tax was not very clear” explained Goshen resident, Traci, who voted NO on the new transit tax. She said that she “wanted to know what the reasons where behind the tax.” She went on to explain that her vote was not against expanding public transit in Was. Co. but more a vote against the unknown and in this time of economic uncertainty, where people have to strap down and make tough decisions, “I better be safe than sorry.
Read More...Category Elections 2012, News, Politics, WashCo Politics 2012 | Tags:
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Election Day
2May 21, 2012 by Matthew Jones
Election day is finally here, or at least the May 22nd election day. There will be more to come. If you have already voted in early or absentee voting thanks, but for all those who have waited there is still time left to vote. I hope that everyone decides to vote, because there are not only important issues on the ballot, whether or not people in Washington Co. will be paying higher sales taxes, but also important primary races going on, and judge ships to be decided on as well. It is important that every eligible citizen of this county vote and have their voices heard. A term that I hear a lot is: The Silent Majority. This refers to when most of the people agree on one side or another of a particular issue but they are not as vocal about it or decide, for some reason or another, not to vote. There is no reason why this term should even be in existence because if someone feels that an issue is an important or wants to change or keep the government the same, there is an outlet in our way of governance to show that. Just vote. I …
Read More...Category Elections 2012, News, Politics, WashCo Politics 2012 | Tags:
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Tax for Public Transit
1May 3, 2012 by Matthew Jones
One of the most widely talked about ballot proposals on the ballot this May, is the 1/4 percent sales tax increase to raise funds for public transportation in Washington County. The tax increase comes from the Washington Quorum court to the voters. This incentive to raise funds for public transit began with a cooperation with Benton County, but Benton County later pulled out and Washington County decided to move forward with the project. Reasons to vote for the tax increase: The main purpose of the tax increase is to raise funds. As voters we want to receive services from the government, but we do not want our government to go into debt and to be fiscally responsible and to pay for what they spend. Proponents would say that public transit is a much needed service for NWA and that it helps the handicapped and elderly, mostly of Washington County, who cannot drive or get around other ways. Reasons to vote against the tax increase: It is a tax increase. No one really wants to pay more money to the government. People are budgeting anyways and why give more money away to the government. Also, the tax increase they propose would …
Read More...Category Politics, WashCo Politics 2012 | Tags: politics
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Who are OUR judges?
0April 13, 2012 by Matthew Jones
If most of you are like me, you know who is running for president. You most likely know who is running for the major positions in your community, but what about those people who don’t have party affiliations, officially? Who really knows who the judges that are running in your district really are? Well I hope that this little bit of information makes your job on May 22nd a little easier. Washington County is in Judicial District 4, along with Madison County. This is for the circuit court, the lowest of the of the three courts in the state court system. (The Court of Appeals and the Arkansas Supreme Court are the higher two types of courts.) There are currently two seats open on this circuit, Division 4 and Division 6. For Division 4 you have three new candidates vying for your votes, while in Division 6 you an incumbent judge versus a newcomer. In Division 6, there is incumbent Judge Mark Lindsay. According to his re-election page on Facebook, he has served on the circuit court bench since March 2000. Also, he was in private law practice for 21 years and was Judge of the West Fork Municipal Court for 15 years. He went …
Read More...Category Politics, WashCo Politics 2012 | Tags: Amy Estes Turner, Bob Lambert, Brenda Austin, Circuit Court, cristi beaumont, District 4, Division 4, Divsion 6, Judge Mark Lindsay, politics
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Editorial: Get Out of the Shade
1March 26, 2012 by Steve Winkler
Political culture is a curious thing. It always begs the question, “why can’t everybody be like me.” What seems so clear, so obvious to one person can seem so incredibly wrong-headed to the other guy. Democracy breeds ideological diversity. But still, why do we need a law that insists government business take place out in the open, accessible to all. Why do we need Sunshine laws and Freedom of Information statues? Can’t everybody see the advantage of open government?
Read More...Category Editorials, Opinion, Politics, WashCo Politics 2012 | Tags: West Fork, West Fork City Council
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