BENTONVILLE -- Candidates for Benton County judge and sheriff will have the opportunity this week to tell voters why each thinks he is the right man for the position.
The two candidates for county judge -- Bob Clinard and Barry Moehring -- will be at a forum hosted by the Rogers Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, and Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders.
The forum will also include the four candidates for Benton County sheriff. The candidates are Sheriff Kelley Cradduck, Lowell Police Lt. Paul Pillaro, Siloam Springs Police Cpl. Timothy Filbeck, and Benton County sheriff's Maj. Shawn Holloway.
The candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for the two positions. The primary election is March 1.
The forum is at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Peterson Auditorium of the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
Bill Adams, Cradduck's campaign manager, said Cradduck will attend and participate in the forum.
"Sheriff Cradduck is looking forward to the forums and the opportunity to discuss his plans for adding body cameras and other positive plans to be more accountable to the taxpayer," Adams said.
Filbeck said his goal is to introduce himself to voters and encourage them to look into all the candidates in all political races.
"I also want to give the citizens a basic scope of who I am, a history of my family roots to Benton County, a breakdown of my 30 years of public safety service and my goals of where I will take the Benton County Sheriff's Office once I am elected." Filbeck said.
Holloway said he is looking forward to meeting people and addressing their questions and concerns about the Sheriff's Office.
"Public forums are an excellent way to meet the candidates and exercise the spirit of the election process we enjoy in our great nation," Holloway said.
Pillaro said he is looking forward to meeting people and speaking at the forum. "It's a way for each candidate to get out and get their message to voters," Pillaro said.
Moehring believes forums may play a more important role in this campaign cycle than other years. Moehring said there are usually months to campaign with elections in May, but the candidates have just six to eight weeks to campaign for this election.
The forums are probably more important because of the compressed campaign cycle, Moehring said.
"I'm looking forward to it," Moehring said. "I think it's great that voters will see myself and the incumbent judge on stage together. These forums are a healthy part of the campaign.
Clinard said forums are a good way for people to learn about the candidates; their personas; and how each candidate feels about the issues. "I look forward to being able to speak in the public eye and let people know my feelings concerning the issues," Clinard said.
Clinard said forums are probably the best way for voters to learn about the candidates.
There are no candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for either county judge or sheriff.
Glenn Latham is running as an Independent for Benton County sheriff and will face the winner of the Republican primary in November.
Ronnie L. Smith is running as a Libertarian for county judge and his name will be on the November ballot. In addition, Jeff Broadston will be a write-in candidate for county judge in November.
Rusty Turner, editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, will be the moderator for the forum, according to Jon Moran, vice president for government affairs for the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.
Moran said Turner will compose questions for the candidates and postcards will be passed to audience members, who will be allowed to write questions on the cards. Turner can select questions from the cards, Moran said.
"There will be no open forum where we pass a microphone in the audience for people to ask questions," Moran said.
Moran said they will not share any of the questions with the candidates.
The first part of the program will be the county judge candidates and the second portion will be the sheriff's candidates, Moran said. The forum should last at least a couple of hours.
A second forum will be hosted at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Peterson Auditorium for state legislative candidates.
Sheriff candidates
The four Republican candidates for Benton County sheriff will be guest speakers at noon Jan. 19 for the Benton County Republican Women club meeting at the Golden Corral in Rogers.
Source: Staff report
General News on 01/13/2016