With local municipal and county races approaching, Resident News Network hosted a candidate roundtable Tuesday evening at Mansfield High School, bringing candidates from Scott County and southern Sebastian County together to discuss issues facing their communities.
The Resident News Roundtable began at 6 p.m. and was moderated by Don Cloud Davis.
Candidates and elected officials in attendance included Scott County Judge incumbent Brian Jones; Scott County assessor candidate Sarah Wilson; Scott County sheriff candidates (incumbent) Randy Shores and Jason Daggs; Waldron City Council incumbents Doyle Dickens, who is running unopposed, David Carter and Jeff Gilbert; Waldron mayoral candidates Konnor McKay and Joshua Young; Huntington mayoral candidate Ed Chaney; Mansfield City Council incumbents Julie Thomas and Glen Hurt; and council candidates Dave Thomas and Sue Chapman.
The evening opened with an invocation offered by First Baptist Church Pastor Matt Smithson, followed by the posting of the colors by local Boy Scout Troop 330. Kathy Forbes then delivered the National Anthem.
Resident News Network owner Jason Baggett welcomed those in attendance and introduced Davis as the evening’s moderator. Baggett explained that questions would not be taken from the audience during the event. Instead, Davis would present questions previously submitted by RNN readers.
Davis maintained an open and conversational format throughout the evening, allowing candidates to discuss their backgrounds, priorities and concerns they have heard from constituents.
Scott County assessor candidate Sarah Wilson kicked off the discussion with an overview of her plans for the office.
“If I am elected, know I am in office for as long as Scott County wants me to be,” Wilson said.
Wilson said she has already been attending classes in preparation for the position and wants to bring technological and other needed updates to the county assessor’s office.
“We don’t want to do just the bare minimum that is required by law,” Wilson said.
She encouraged residents to bring their property assessment questions and concerns directly to the office. Wilson emphasized that she views the assessor’s responsibility as serving Scott County residents and helping them understand the assessment process rather than simply generating revenue for the county or state.
Scott County Sheriff and County Judge
Questions for the Scott County sheriff candidates focused on law enforcement training, drugs and their priorities for the department.
Sheriff Randy Shores said he wants the opportunity to continue the work already underway and to keep building and strengthening the department.
Candidate Jason Daggs emphasized transparency, education and ensuring residents have confidence that deputies will respond when they need assistance.
“When they call, we are coming,” Daggs said.
Questions for Scott County Judge Brian Jones centered on the county budget, roads, the current condition of the county and its future.
Jones pointed to the county’s most recent audit when discussing its financial position, noting that auditors were pleased with the county’s financial standing. He also addressed road and infrastructure needs and the challenges of balancing those projects with the county’s available resources.
Huntington and Waldron Candidates
Huntington mayoral candidate Ed Chaney reminded voters of his longstanding commitment to serving and volunteering in the community. Chaney said he remains committed to helping build a better future for Huntington and its residents.
The Waldron City Council candidates expressed similar concerns about their city’s future, discussing issues including flooding, infrastructure and the business climate along Main Street.
David Carter emphasized the importance of making decisions today that will benefit future generations.
“We won’t ever see the interstate, but our children will, and we want to do things now that will benefit them,” Carter said.
The two-man race for Waldron mayor remained cordial throughout the discussion, with Konnor McKay acknowledging that he and opponent Joshua Young share some of the same hopes for their community.
“When I heard Josh was running, I couldn’t be mad at a man for wanting the same things I do, and that’s a good place to raise our family,” McKay said.
Young emphasized infrastructure and flooding, saying those problems must be addressed before other efforts to improve Waldron can successfully take hold and remain sustainable.
Mansfield City Council
The discussion then turned to the Mansfield City Council races.
When candidates were asked what their first 90 days in office would look like, incumbent Julie Thomas said she wanted to continue moving Mansfield forward.
Dave Johnson expressed concern about what he described as a lack of enforcement of city ordinances and codes and said he would like to see those issues addressed.
Alderman Glen Hurt pointed to his previous experience as Mansfield mayor and his current service on the council, saying he would like to see the city return to a period of positive growth and prosperity.
His opponent, Sue Chapman, acknowledged that she would be “new” to serving on the council but emphasized that she is willing to learn and serve the community.
Mansfield Mayoral Candidates Close the Evening
The final race of the evening brought Mansfield mayoral candidate Boyd Farmer and incumbent Mayor Buddy Black to the stage.
Davis opened the discussion by giving both men an opportunity to make the case for their candidacies. Farmer pointed to more than 30 years of public service, including his experience in law enforcement and on the Mansfield City Council. Black responded by pointing to his eight-year record as mayor.
Farmer outlined several priorities, including restoring 24-hour police coverage, establishing a funded school resource officer position, addressing the city’s wastewater infrastructure needs and placing the priorities of Mansfield residents at the forefront of city government.
Black said a study conducted during his administration indicated that 24-hour police coverage was not necessary for Mansfield and said he believes things in the city are currently “really good.”
The discussion also turned to division within the community. Black identified Facebook and social media as contributing to contention within Mansfield and said he believes the community needs to come back together. Black, however, made not mention of how he plans to do that.
Farmer responded that bringing the community together starts with good leadership.
The exchange concluded the candidate portion of the Resident News Roundtable, giving Mansfield voters an opportunity to hear the two mayoral candidates discuss their records, priorities and differing approaches to issues facing the city.
RNN Thanks Community Partners
Resident News Network would like to thank the Mansfield School District for its always-hospitable accommodations and support in hosting the Roundtable.
RNN also extends its appreciation to Boy Scout Troop 330 for presenting the colors; Kathy Forbes for performing the National Anthem; Pastor Matt Smithson for offering the invocation; Mansfield Sonic and Nikolle Dixon for their donation of bottled water; and Lisa Nichols for her assistance both before and throughout the event.
The Roundtable would not have been possible without the candidates, community members and volunteers who gave their time to participate, as well as the RNN readers who submitted questions and helped guide the evening’s discussion.
Due to time constraints, several reader-submitted questions were not able to be presented during the event. RNN will be reaching out to the respective candidates and elected officials with those questions and providing them an opportunity to respond. Those responses will be published for our readers.
RNN remains grateful for the opportunity to provide a forum where local voters can hear directly from those seeking to represent them.
