Benton County Judge
Over their four-year term, a county judge is responsible for:Maintaining and having custody of county propertyOverseeing public roads and bridges outside city limitsAdministering county ordinances Presiding over the Quorum Court, where the judge has veto power but not a voteAuthorizing county spending or paying of billsAccepting grants from outside entitiesHiring county employees that don't work for another county officialHearing property tax appeals (this is where that judge title comes in)Meeting with local mayors at least once a year for intergovernmental meetingsIn some counties, judges have assisted with burial costs for indigent people or have created community service programs.https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/ced-blog/posts/2022/april/what-is-a-county-judge.aspx
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Austin McCollum
(Rep)
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Carrie Perrien Smith
(Rep)
Describe in your own words the duties of the office you seek.
Describe in your own words the experience and skills you have that qualifies you for this position.
Describe the first thing you plan to change/improve when you take office and how you will accomplish that goal.
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Campaign Phone
479-903-0208
Contest
Benton County Judge
YouTube video
The county judge is the chief administrative officer for the county -- it's like a "mayor" for the county. This office oversees all the support functions for the county that do not report to another elected official such as roads, facilities, human resources, and information technology.
I'm the only candidate in this race with a Masters in Business Administration. My JBU MBA emphasizes leadership and ethics.
My college education started with a drafting degree. That means I can read floor plans and engineering drawings.
Serving my fourth term on the Benton County Quorum Court, I'm the only candidate in this race with county government experience. Institutional knowledge matters.
Self-employed since 2003, my business sold speakers and training services to the human resources industry. As a member of our local Society for Human Resources Management chapter for 10 years, I attended 80 to 90 continuing education programs.
My leadership resume was built serving in leadership roles in more than 20 nonprofits over 20 years.
Initiative one: tackling jail overcrowding and recidivism through job trades training for the inmates. My plan raises funds for job training and mentoring -- no additional cost to taxpayers.
Our employers need skilled trade workers. My plan is based on interviews with existing and emerging transitional living organizations and our community college.
Joblessness drives 60% of repeat offenses. If we can train inmates for a trade where they earn a good living wage and work every day in a community of coworkers while providing mentoring support, we can reduce the jail population. I see an opportunity for conditional early release with an ankle monitor in exchange for good job attendance and performance.
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