8/20/08
It is very interesting that Alderman White and others, while they SAY they are against annexation, didn't seem to take the time out of their schedule to attend any of the meetings in Salem. Even the mayor himself waited until the last minute to attend the last public meeting in Salem. Even though he serves in a Ward that won't be affected by annexation, he sends a letter asking for monies from the fine people of your area? I find this very inappropriate. I said what I did for the people of Salem from my heart, not from my need of contributions to my campaign. With the exception of a few hundred dollars, all my campaign money has come from my pocket. While nothing is "official" for my run against Doug Stracener, I assure you that will be taken care of soon. I can't take back all 5 seats that Whit Jones of the Courier says are needed to be taken, but I can cure the ills of one seat.........by relieving the "leader of the crew" of his seat. Doug Stracener has taken from the working man for ten years, and tried to force his will on the good people of Benton long enough......its time to say "No More". Thank you for your time........

Scott Hunter hunter_in_08@yahoo.com 501.413.9196

8/21/08
Scott, Thank you for writing. I noticed that most of the city council also could not take the time to attend the public hearing on July 7th. Alderman Joe Lee Richards suggested that we have a question and answer session in the future. He seemed to be unaware that we already did that and he missed it.

Some people have not been able to attend the Salem Community meetings or the city council meetings where you have spoken against involuntary annexation. Could you tell those people what you have been saying including your reasons for being against forced annexations?

You know that it is very difficult to oust an incumbent. However I admire you for trying, and perhaps some people will embrace your platform and ask council members why they could not at least consider some of your ideas. This is not an endorsement of your candidacy or all of your ideas. I think it is important that people hear from the candidates and make up their own minds.

I want to digress and say that most of us are not opposing voluntary annexations or even pre-annexation agreements. I understand that it makes sense for people in housing developments with relatively small lots to be in the city if those people want to be in the city. However, it does not make sense for a city to take in large very rural areas. Furthermore if the residents do not desire to be in the city, then it is wrong to force them to be in the city. Yes, they can vote in the annexation election, but they are so outnumbered by city voters, that they really do not have a choice in the matter.

Charles Young

8/21/08
Here are some of the things I believe in and what I plan on running my campaign on.

It has always been my belief that Benton is going in the wrong direction when it comes to making up its tax base. We have many abandoned buildings and lots in the City of Benton, and Doug Stracener's Economic Development Commission is just not doing its job as far as I am concerned. Forced Annexation, whether by vote or by Council action, is not the answer. We need to find the tax base within a stronger more organized City, and our seated council now just isn't doing that. You will notice that they decided to move the election? This was done so YOUR PEOPLE cannot vote them out of office this year. PERIOD. The Council knew your fine people would be mad, and would expect heads to roll. They also divided the areas (divide and conquer) as to make it easier to make their dreams of land grabbing come true.

As I have spoken before at some of the annexation meetings, its kinda like dating a woman. If I was single and went out with a woman, but expected HER to pay for everything, I don't think we would be together for very long. Benton doesn't want to make any concessions towards the people it wants to annex, making YOU pay for all water and sewer hookups. Your electricity provider won't change, and unless water is run your way, your water provider stays the same. This is ALL about taxes, taxes, taxes. A quick visit to some parts of Benton will show you that we aren't taking care of our own citizens, let alone anyone else above that.

My opponent, Doug Stracener, has sat in his seat for 10 years, and wants to boast about a vicious dog act and background checks for door-to-door salesman. These are both laws that other cities enacted, and Stracener just copied them as his own. That's not original, and nothing to boast about. Stracener, Marsha Guffey (who called your fine people the "Vocal Minority"), and Mayor Holland spent $400 per night per person on hotel rooms during their trip to Las Vegas in June. This kind of waste is hard to swallow when they are talking about lack of money in our City. This and many other reasons will soon be the end I hope of Mr Stracener and some of the other council members. We need men of action, but also men (or women) who will put themselves in the place of the people who they are attacking, and forced annexation is an attack.

I hope to bring back common sense and civility to the Position 2 seat. I feel my fresh view will bring about better treatment of our citizens and citizens to be, and can be contacted anytime at 413.9196.

PS.........is this where I ask people for money (as at least your people WILL be in my Ward)

Thank You, Scott Hunter

8/22/08

It seems that I am the only one responding. Others are welcome to respond as well. I know that if nobody responds to your comments, that you feel like nobody is listening / reading. It may not be a large number, but people are listening.

I think it is fine for you to ask for campaign contributions. You cannot win an election without at least some money. Even if you do not win the election, you can get your issues out there for people to think about. Maybe that will make some difference, and maybe it will cause the incumbent to realize that there are people who disagree with him to the extent that they are willing to contribute money to his opponent.

I have been thinking about what you said regarding Alderman Greg White asking for money from people that are not in his ward. Perhaps Alderman White is not as anti-annexation as some would like, but he and perhaps Alderman Steve Lee seem to be our best hope to stand up for our right to be left alone. You are entitled to your opinion, but my opinion is that anyone who wants to maintain an anti-annexation voice on the city council should be able to contribute to help those people get reelected. Just because we cannot vote for certain candidates, does not mean that we cannot and should not support their campaigns with our money.

Yes, paying $400 per night for hotel rooms plus other expenses is outrageous. Even though I do not live in Benton, I pay sales tax every time I shop in Benton, so that was partly my money that they wasted.

Charles Young

8/21/08
New to this forum. The developers in Bryant need more area for their personal wealth benefit, thus the "push" not to mention Bryant's search for revenue with the 2010 census.

Paul Merritt

8/21/08
I do not think Bryant is being honest when they say they can build out a sewer system for several thousand acres of sparsely populated land, provide police and fire protection, etc. all without raising taxes!

Charles Young 8/22/08

We're all unhappy with the prospect of being sucked into one city or another.

Very rarely can a city initiate a sewer system build out without it being funded by the residents through taxation, be that sales, real estate, personal property or permit fee structures.

It seems that in order to successfully defeat either the Benton or Bryant proposals we, as a group, need to convince the typical voter IN THE EXISTING CITIES to vote against the proposals. If the Northlake residents vote NO to Benton and NO to Bryant then I believe the existing city residents will be voting (just like Gravel Ridge versus Jacksonville\Sherwood). We in the proposed annexation areas cannot outvote the residents. We have to address the issue of the respective cities' inability to provide services to the EXISTING residents, much less an area of expansion. Several neighborhoods in Bryant are unhappy with the rain runoff as they were flooded in April much less street improvements, water system renovation needs, etc.--Bryant has only band-aided these things. Surely some areas of Benton have concerns as to how their city will be able to provide additional services to the proposed annexation much less their existing needs. One thing residents understand is poor roads which are not too hard to find in Benton or Bryant.

Paul Merritt, CPA