Washington County District 4 Justice of the Peace seat vacant for more than a year
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — There have been 14 members of the Washington County Quorum Court for more than a year when there are supposed to be 15.
After Fred Anderson passed away in March 2023, the Washington County District 4 Justice of the Peace seat opened up, and it has yet to be filled — a task that is Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ responsibility. Washington County District 11 Justice of the Peace Suki Highers said the vacancy is “a really important thing.”
“You have a whole group of people in Springdale, who are without representation in their county government,” Highers said.
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District 4 stretches from West End Street to Butterfield Coach Road and from Robinson Avenue up to Old Wire Road, which includes Downtown Springdale.
A justice of the peace’s job includes setting the county budget and passing county laws, among other things, Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins said. Deakins compared the position to being like a city council member but for the entire county.
Highers said there can be repercussions for not having a justice of the peace for a district.
“I think the most important thing to the citizens is probably how we’re spending their tax dollars, and so without that voice, they’re paying the taxes. But, they’re not being represented,” Highers said. “I think we fought a war over that once.
“We just recently had an ordinance that was up that had a very big impact on Marshallese and Springdale families, and they didn’t have anyone there to represent them for that vote,” Highers said.
Bob Hand lives in District 4, and while he would like to see the seat filled, he thinks an appointment from Sanders could result in political bias getting in the way.
Hand said not having a quorum court representative for a city as big as Springdale may not be as bad as it would be for a smaller community in the county.
“They pay their taxes, too,” Hand said. “People that have all the money think the tax dollars should be spent on them, and that’s just not right.”
Deakins said the new appointee would serve through the end of the year. The November election will have the District 4 seat on the ballot, which Deakins said has “a couple of candidates” running in.
If a candidate is appointed to the seat now, they are unable to run for re-election in November.
To apply for the District 4 Justice of the Peace seat, you can visit Sanders’ website, select that you’re applying for a “Board or Commission” and choose “Justice of the Peace” on the ensuing drop-down menu.
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