Board candidates answer questions

Seven candidates running for three positions on the Board of Directors will face off in November's general election on Nov. 4. Early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 20.

Early voting will be held at the County Clerk's office at 707 S. Lincoln St., from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 20 to Nov. 3 on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.

Regular voting will begin Nov. 4 at specified polling places.

The Herald-Leader conducted a question-and-answer session about current issues the city faces.

The questions are listed at the top of Page 4.

Their answers are presented from Ward 1 to Ward 3, alphabetical by the candidate's last name.

Ward 1

Dennis Brown, 62, incumbent

1. I am a widowed father of four children -- three daughters, one son, and I have eight grandkids.

2. I am a retired teacher.

3. A masters degree in educational administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

4. I have sat on Ward 1 for more than a year.

5. That's a wide range of things. In political office, I'd say that I am a conservative who believes in limited government and it's my responsibility, which I gave an oath for, to defend the constitution. And, I'd say I am also a strong believer in Jesus Christ.

6. I believe I am running for a purpose; there are things I believe need to be accomplished that haven't been completed yet.

7. Unity of the board is one of the changes I would like to see. I don't know exactly how to accomplish it, but I feel there needs to be a unity -- we have not quite accomplished it. And, I would like to see a practical solution to the trash system that is once a week and based on the size container. People who produce more trash pay more and people who produce less pay less. I'd also like to see the money generated by hikes on sewer and water and see if there is a possible way for those who are retired to somehow reduce their rates because people on fixed incomes struggle.

8. One thing we need to do is deal with the library -- the future of the library -- determining how we are going to do that and as a city are we going to spend the money or ask the Friends of the Library to come up with funds.

Two, we need to take a look at the old post office downtown that remains. The property continues to deteriorate and we either need to sell it or raze it. There is some emotional attachment for a lot of folks, but that doesn't make sense to hold onto the property just because.

And three, the obvious elephant in the room -- finding a city administrator that fits our needs as a city and can assist in leading the city forward, with management and foresight, into the next direction we may go.

9. I am open to a candidate from inside or outside of the town. If we have someone who says they're willing to do the job well then we should take their application. We need someone who can communicate well, who has a vision and is a creative thinker, someone who can look outside the box and not be limited to do things the way they've always been done. I'd like to have someone that has very good people skills and someone who doesn't think they have to have their finger in every pie.

10. I think the $100,000 is fairly steep for them or anyone else. I voted for it in order to give the city administrator some leeway, knowing he has got to get back to us to OK it. The chamber gave a nice, slick presentation in a nice folder and it looks great, but I didn't feel as though they gave us as many hard and fast guarantees -- there were no assurances. I really would have like to have seen more for $100,000.

11. I think the state's ethics laws are sufficient -- that's why they are there. While I appreciate Carol bringing (the ethics policy) forward, it is self-governing. Ethics guidelines are a better title if it's self-policing. If someone chooses to violate and there is nothing with teeth to hold them to it -- when there are laws in place to be open and honest -- adding to it won't help. I think the heart of it was to bring the board together and draw unity.

Chad Raith

Raith has withdrawn from the upcoming election; however, his name will still appear on the ballot.

Ward 2

Brad Burns, 50, incumbent

1. I have a wife, Hillary. We have three daughters and one boy.

2. Retired fire captain and I was in the Marine Corps, 03-11, infantry.

3. I attended the National Fire Academy for fire service.

4. Currently board member for Ward 2. I am on the Municipal League's public safety advisory board and I am a member of the American Legion.

5. I am a retired public servant who enjoys serving the community in a different capacity.

6. The first term was just to fill in and I am running again so that I can serve a full term and complete the obligation I made.

7. I am not worried about bringing up things that make some people uncomfortable -- I want to see the city moving along for growth and development. I want to increase the quality of life in Siloam Springs through a pedal- and paddle-friendly community -- we've got a lot of lake and river development out to Sager Creek and City Lake -- I see a visibly outdoor driven community. I am big into core development and I want the core of the town to be a positive reflection in the community.

8. How do you narrow it down to three issues? What holds for us today might not be the issues in a few months. But today, my top three issues are: I am currently sitting on the board so I will focus on the board. One, amongst the board I would like us to embrace our diversity. Two, stay focused on the task at hand -- growth and development and quality of life for the citizens. Three, make sure we nurture Ward 2 as it experiences changes and growth. We have projects coming up that everyone has to have respect and tolerance for and stay focused on the end product.

9. I think we need to hire someone from the outside to come in. I'm an operational guy and I am a former city employee and I like structure from top to bottom and bottom to the top. What I am looking for is the best person from outside with fresh ideas.

10. I have mixed emotions and I think it needs further discussion.

11. I think there are ethics laws on the books that are efficient. I see we have some diversity, but we're a growing community with different mindsets. We need to learn to embrace out diversity.

Ken Kloet, 62

1. I am widowed from my first wife and divorced from my second. I have two children who are both in their 30s. My son works for Walmart in Milwaukee and my daughter works for a stock broker.

2. I am retired, on disability. I was a project engineer for die casting.

3. I have vocational experience. I had two state endowed apprenticeships in tool and die making and pattern making for foundries at Mercury Marine.

4. I am a member of First Baptist Church, a Chamber member and I attend all the board meetings.

5. I am a citizen interested in serving the community on the Board of Directors. I believe I can bring a lot of knowledge and experience to how things are done on the city board.

6. Why am I running? Just use the things I said for the previous question.

7. Stop creating problems and solve the ones we have.

8. One, I think continuing to attract and retain businesses and economic development in the city. Two, attract and maintain good employees and maintain the ability to pay them -- health coverage is a real issue for the city, therefore, for the city board. Three, maintaining and/or improving, overall, the city's quality of life.

9. I believe it's very important to have someone who is able to bring and develop systems for accomplishing tasks and to accomplish the things at hand. David Cameron has had a lot of influence -- we have a lot of improvements and issues that need to be developed to put infrastructure in place. We need a person who heads this, the city administrator doesn't have to accomplish the tasks themselves but they need to be able to identify issues and actions that need to be accomplished and hold people accountable for completing tasks.

10. We need to know what we need for economic development and what the take-homes are for spending any money -- any money has to have some level of return described. In order to get it described, we need to get proposals. We need to solicit from organizations that do economic development and the chamber is certainly a viable competitor, but I don't think they're the only ones. We have to give the city administrator a line item and an approximate budget, but we have got to have something to compare it to. Setting targets and settings a budget will help solicit proposals.

11. I believe there should be a board-defined ethics policy; however, the one proposed needs to be substantially worked on. There were a lot of things that weren't defined well. It's not a bad starting point; however, it's just a starting point. My opponent has violated numerous (things) in that proposed policy. He proposed, voted on and discussed things he was directly affected by and he voted on it. If there is a conflict of interest, he should neither vote of discuss it as a member of the board.

Ward 3

Frank Johnson

Numerous messages, including by email, home phone and cell phone, had not been answered by Friday evening.

David VanSandt, 42

1. I am married and have four children.

2. I work for Information Services at Simmons Foods and I own Cross Country Cyclery.

3. I have some college.

4. I have been involved with the Parks Advisory Board for the last seven years and I am a member of the Siloam Peddlers group. I am a member on the committee for PASS and I am a member of the Wellfest Planning Committee. I also work with the health clinic at the schools to get bikes in the school.

5. I define myself as driven and open to other people's opinions. I am a decision maker and I am focused. I also define myself as a bike advocate. I never got out of bicycles -- I was racing BMX when I was a kid -- it's a really big part of what me and my family do.

6. Honestly, I am running because I think there is a voice within the city that isn't heard. Everything has a season for change to bring new businesses to the community. If I become a board member I will be challenged with representing the city -- I have to let everyone's voice in my district be heard -- to be a steward for the voice of the people.

7. For us to look more towards attracting new businesses to the city. I would also like to see us think outside of big business and I think we need to connect big business and Main Street with the gray area that is not being focused on.

8. I will have to think on those.

9. I think David Cameron had a great season, but what I am looking for is someone who is looking into taking the next step to progress Siloam Springs. I want someone to take us to the next level because there is so much potential and I don't want to lose the things we've done. And, I want the most qualified person.

10. I would like to see the track record for the chamber before I can really comment on it. It's a fairly recent topic and I haven't had time to research it. However, if they have a good track record then that is good, if not, we need to look for someone else. It comes back to finding the best person for the job.

11. I'm not a huge proponent of the board making rules for the board. I like that the state provides an ethics policy. But, if there's some gray area I'm not sure the board should make their own ethics policies.

Ward 4

Judy Nation, 63, incumbent

1. I am married with one son and two grandchildren.

2. I am the assistant vice president/loan assistant at Decatur State Bank.

3. A high school diploma and one semester at John Brown University.

4. I think of myself as a servant and served on Ward 4 seat for 15 years. I have served as an official on the Chamber board. I am involved with First Christian Church where I play piano. I have volunteered at the Manna Center in the past.

5. I think of myself as a servant and by that I mean it's important to serve the community in any way I can. I feel the same way for my church and I feel I have a servant's heart.

6. I have enjoyed serving in that capacity for the last 15 years. Some good things have happened because our board wanted to see things come to fruition. I think we are going to have issues to address with water quality and I would like to be a part of that to see it completed. I will continue to work and see those things realized.

7. I suppose I would like to see our downtown revitalization move forward, continue and be completed, if that's possible. I'd like to see that happen because it's been going on for awhile. I want to see us continue to grow and move forward and not stop progressing. We need to keep doing that. And I'd like to see our parks and trails continue to improve and expand for our citizens' benefit.

8. Economic development is first on the list because we have lost jobs and have a lot of people needing to be employed -- there's a lot of competition for businesses we're trying to attract. Second, is the quality of life for citizens and improving what we have to offer. An example is the library, parks, and trail systems. Third, is water quality. Finding that we have to meet EPA requirements, and we know changes are coming. We just don't know what we need to do to get prepared to put those into place.

9. I would like to see us find someone who has a strong leadership ability, has a vision for Siloam Springs and desires to serve citizens. I think the most qualified person should get the job, but a person coming from the outside would bring a new perspective and we will get ideas that we won't get from someone who is already here.

10. I think that is something that the board as a whole will need to consider and do what is best for the city. We do need leadership in that area. The board can look at what the chamber has to offer, what an inside person has to offer, and what an outside group has to offer and make our decision off of that.

11. I think the state's ethics laws are sufficient as far as what is included in the guidelines. I think it's good to have our own because it puts a document in front of us. It gives citizens something to measure us by. I don't think it hurts to have a little extra.

Amy D. F. Smith, 43

1. I have been married for 18 years to Curtis Smith. We have one daughter in kindergarten.

2. I am a small-business owner of a small environmental consulting company and I am an adjunct professor in the biology department at John Brown University.

3. I have a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and a bachelor's degree from the now Missouri State.

4. I have been active in church at Grace Episcopal. I've been on the planning committee for Main Street fundraising events for the last two years.

5. I am an academic. I am geeky, outdoorsy, creative, and dedicated. I follow through and I keep my word. I am really diverse and what drives me now is the desire to be the best me that I can be because that is all I have control over.

6. My neighbors asked me if I would run. They expect that I can make some good, forward-thinking decisions.

7. I would like for us to continue on the path of revitalization and support projects that encourage a healthy community, including physically, financially and environmentally healthy.

8. I believe the largest issues the city faces is allocating funds. It's a problem any community faces because it's tough to allocate a finite amount of money.

9. I would want a city administrator who's listening to members of the community, has the ability to make plans for the short- and long-term, as well as complete plans for the long-term. I think we need the best candidate with the best skill-set regardless of where they're from.

10. I don't know enough about it to comment.

11. I think it's sad considering there are ethics laws. Shouldn't any board member be inherently ethical and moral?