Benton City Council candidates discussed annexation and other growth-releated issues Tuesday night to end Political Forum 2008 at the Royal Theatre in Downtown Benton.
Benton and Bryant council members were invited to participate, but only the Benton contenders participated. Bryant Alderman Steve Glenn was the lone Bryant representative present.
The forum was co-sponsored by the Courier and TV95. Longtime Little Rock television personality Dave Woodman moderated Tuesday night’s session.
Candidates addressed the following two questions:
1. Growth-related issues remain paramount for Benton and the city is actively pursuing annexation. Residents in the areas proposed for annexation have said that they do not want to be annexed and that they live in unincorporated Saline County because they chose to do so. If you support annexation, what would you tell these people to convince them that they would be better off living in Benton? If you oppose annexation, what would you say to critics who may say that you are trying to impede growth?
2. Staying with the growth issue: There are Benton residents who say the city should improve services before it takes on additional responsibilities. Residents say streets and roads need immediate attention, they say the city needs additional police and fire protection, and they say they want more amenities. If you support annexation, what would you tell these people to convince them that the city can meet their needs while taking on additional responsibilities? If you oppose annexation for this reason, what would you say to other city officials to persuade them to share your thinking?
Following are some of the candidates’ comments:
Ward 1
Both incumbent Greg White and challenger Steve Brown said they oppose forced annexation.
White pointed out that he has gone on record as saying he does not support forced annexation. He said the city has not carefully balanced the costs of annexation versus the services factors involved with annexations.
Brown, chairman of the city’s Parks Commission, said he doesn’t “believe we’re in a position now to take on more areas,” noting that “growth for growth’s sake and annexation for annexation’s sake is not the way to do business.”
Infrastructure improvements must be made and opportunities for a better life for the residents of areas targeted for annexation should be explored, he said.
In response to question 2, Brown said there are many current needs in the city, mentioning streets in particular. “We’ve got a long way to go,” he said.
Enlarging the police and fire departments to meet the needs created by additional residents is important, Brown said. Equipment needs should be resolved before additional areas are annexed, he said.
He said city leaders should back projects such as the ones proposed by the Parks Commission and Advertising and Promotion Commission, which are working on plans for an events center, a project that will create a new source of revenue for the city.
“There’s a train a-comin’ and we all need to get on board,” White said of the proposed events center. “We’re developing a new priorities list ... several things are in the making,” he said.
White said he has continually “fought the good ol’ boy system” since joining the council two years ago.
Citing the “vision for Benton,” he espoused that when he ran for the council seat the first time, he said he continues to hold onto his goals, which include curbside recycling and consolidating the city and county’s 911 services.
Brown said change is needed, but there’s a difference between being a change agent and an agent of change. He sees himself as an agent of change and promised to work toward the type of changes the city needs to become “the best place to live.”
Ward 4
Two-term Alderman Brad Moore said he supports voluntary annexation, such as the one mutually agreed upon by the city and three of the county’s major industries.
He also pointed out that Benton leaders recently felt forced into an annexation vote to try to protect areas that have been designated as part of Benton’s planning area. This occurred when Bryant officials announced plans to annex areas designated for Benton on a planning map agreed to by planning commissions of both cities.
“We gave the citizens a vote in the process,” he said.
Challenger Warren Burleson, a former alderman, pointed out that a “city that does not grow will probably die, but to force someone to be incorporated is wrong.”
People who chose the country style of living should not be forced to be part of a city, said Burleson, a Parks Commission member who was defeated by White in 2004.
Forcing change upon an area, where the county residents have voted for a particular kind of life, is not right, he said, mentioning the fact that some local business owners have obtained permits to serve alcohol even though residents voted many years ago to keep Saline County “dry.”
Burleson said the city has many priorities, including needs of the police and fire departments and street improvements. “There’s so much to be done,” he said.
Burleson said he has concerns about the operation of the Advertising and Promotion Commission’s plans to build an events center because he has not heard of a plan to finance the project.
“If the people get to vote for it, I’m for it, but let’s be cautious,” he said.
Ward 5
Alderman Doug Stracener, who is seeking his fifth term, said he is “for annexation in moderation.”
The council’s senior member said the recent annexation issue involving the Northlake area of the county, which failed, “was a knee-jerk reaction” to the city of Bryant’s plans to take in the area, which had been designated as part of Benton’s growth area.
“Growth is something we must face,” he said. “With that comes growing pain,” including stretching services as the city’s borders are expanded.
“Everything does rise and fall with leadership,” he said.
Scott Hunter, who is challenging Stracener for Position 1 in Ward 5, compared his race with Stracener as “classic David vs. Goliath.”
“I want Benton to be a more pleasing place to live,” he said. “I want this to be a place where people want to come.
“We need annexation, but we have to take care of our own people first,” he said.
“Forced annexation is wrong,” he said. “We’ve got to fix Benton. To do that, we have to change the people that make the laws.
“I have my boots on and I’m ready to go to work,” he said. “I’m an old redneck, but I’m not stupid.”
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