Candidates share views

Two races contested in Gravette

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

— Only two races for two-year terms on the Gravette City Council (Ward 1, Position 1, and Ward 2, Position 2) will be on the ballot in the General Election Tuesday, Nov. 6.

In Ward 1, Position 2, incumbent Melissa Smith is unopposed; and incumbent Margo Thomas is unopposed for the Ward 2, Position 1, slot. Robert Robinson and Richard Carver are unopposed for Ward 3, Positions 1 and 2, respectively.

Ward 1 is all area of the city west of Highway 59; Ward 2 is east of Highway 59 to just east of the high school; Ward 3 basically includes all newly incorporated land east of Ward 2.

All registered voters in the city will vote for candidates in the two contested races.

Incumbent city recorder/treasurer Mike von Ree is unopposed for that position. The four-year term of mayor, the position held by Byron Warren, will not be voted on until the 2014 election.

Following is information provided by the candidates.

Chris Beller

Chris Beller, 59, is candidate for Alderman Ward 1, Position 1. A Gravette resident for 21 years, he resides at 108 5th Avenue S.W. with his wife Jackie. They are parents of five children.

Beller is retired. He graduated from Alma High School and has an associate degree from the U of A at Fort Smith. He is affiliated with Heritage Baptist Church and has previously served two terms on the Gravette City Council.

He provided the following statement as to why he is seeking the position: As a property owner and retired, I have the time and experience to maintain a balanced budget and provide for the needs of the city.

Jimmy Denver

Alderman Ward 1, Position 1, incumbent James (Jimmy) Denver, 46, 211 6th Place S.W., has lived in Gravette 46 years. He and his wife Angie are parents of two daughters, Amanda and Alison.

Denver graduated from Rogers High School and has been employed at Walmart DC 6094 for 28 years. Hewas a volunteer fireman at Hiwasse from 1984-94 where he served as board secretary five years. He previously served as alderman in Gravette from 1999 to 2004 and is the present alderman from his ward.

Denver provided the following statement as to why he is seeking re-election: There are many projects that have been started, i.e. the sewer plant project, Ridge Road water line, the addition of Ward 3, 6,000 acres of land and sewer infrastructure repair that I would like to see finished.

Asked to list areas and programs of the city which they believe need to be addressed/considered, how any projects would be funded and to provide an overview of what they would like to see in Gravette as a small city in the future, the candidates responded:

Chris Beller: The city has grown since I moved to Gravette, streets, school, sewage treatment plant. We have the room and tools for growth.

Jimmy Denver: There are always things you would like to see changed for the better but as for an agenda I don’t have one. I just want to try to keep making Gravette a better place for my children and grandchildren to live.

Betty Howard

Betty Howard, 78, who lives at 104 Dogwood Lane in Gravette, is a candidate for Alderman Ward 2, Position 2. She has lived in Gravette many years where her late husband, Bill Howard, served as Mayor for several terms.

She has not held any elective office and is retired. She serves as a volunteer for Care and Share in Gravette.

She provided the following statement as to why she is seeking the position and listed an area of the city which needs to be improved: To make a difference in Gravette. I am a long time resident of Gravette and I’d like to see Gravette grow but maintain its hometown charm. I’d like to see the old abandoned houses torn down.

Larry Stidham

Larry Stidham of Gravette is a candidate for Ward 2, Position 2 on the City Council. He did not respond to the Eagle Observer questionnaire.

News, Pages 8 on 10/24/2012