Forum gives public opportunity to question political candidates

By: Brandy S. Chewning - Texarkana Gazette -

Published: 10/18/2008

About 40 people attended a political forum Thursday and heard the platforms of local and national candidates and asked some pointed questions.

The relaxed town hall setting gave voters a chance to meet their potential representatives and learn more about their goals.

Steve Harrelson, D-Texarkana, is unopposed in his last term for District 1 state representative. He spoke to the citizens about improving education and growing jobs, and encouraged the community to support the controversial power plant Southwestern Electric Power Company is attempting to build in Hempstead County.

“SWEPCO is proposing to bring jobs to Southwest Arkansas. What are we going to do about it?,” he said. “I have studied it. The environmental impact is almost nil. And they’re proposing to bring $11-an-hour jobs to people straight out of high school. If you’re against the power plant, to me you’re against jobs.”

Miller County sheriff-elect Ron Stovall also addressed the group, saying he wants to give back to the community. After 36 years he is about to retire from the Arkansas State Police, saying he has worked hard to recruit strong, responsible managers for the county detention facility.

“We have a monumental task out there. Our platform is going to be fundamentally integrity, professionalism and accountability and credibility,” Stovall told those in attendance. “We have to start with the very basics. The biggest thing I would be concerned with right now is the safety of our citizens.”

Lisa McDermott, with the Miller County Democratic Party, spoke as a representative of Barack Obama’s platform for president. She spoke of Obama’s plan for education, Social Security and health care, using herself as an example.

“What I really am is a child who, at 15 years old, had six brain tumors. At 34 years old, I have had four heart attacks,” McDermott said. “In my body I have steel pins, three artificial arteries and two stents. The most important issue facing me—and that Barack Obama is leading on—is health care.”

McDermott said senior care is also a staple of Obama’s platform, as well as making it possible for more kids to go to college. She encouraged voters to read Obama’s plan for change online to cast an informed vote for president.

Dwayne Hall and Laney Harris are challenging incumbent Shirley Bradley to be Ward 2 director on the Texarkana, Ark., city board, and each spoke of plans to grow the city and improve quality of life. Emphasizing her accessibility, Bradley said she had worked to clean and serve Ward 2.

Kathy Dunphy is facing Ruth Penney Davis for the Ward 1 seat, and explained that the city is striving for economic development. Dunphy said the bulk of the city’s budget, 82 percent, goes to police and fire services. The other 18 percent is used for all other city services.

“I think we do an excellent job with what we have,” Dunphy said. “But at the same time I know what we can be doing, looking at the other side of town. We have economic development happening right now at I-30. It’s a positive thing.”

She described the responsibility of being a ward director and the challenge and frustration of only having one vote on the board.

“Believe me, as city director, Ms. Davis, you get no money,” Dunphy said. “You get only telephone calls and believe me, this job is definitely humbling. You’re going to listen and be chewed out lots of times.”

Dunphy said issues had to be met with action best for the city, not an individual. She noted that city officials can’t make everyone happy.

Davis responded by saying she was used to jobs that didn’t pay because she had been a teacher. She said she is running on a platform of fairness and said southern Texarkana has been overlooked for city services. Davis doesn’t believe a single area should always be the first to receive services.

“I don’t like politics, but I do believe in fairness,” she said. “I don’t promise you if I get elected I’m going to have enough clout to do everything, but let me tell you something—I have a very, very big mouth and I do make a lot of noise.”

Davis said she is committed to honesty and clarity in city government, a vowed to represent the opinion of the Ward 1 residents.

“If you see fit to vote for me, you’ll have access to me,” Davis said. “I’m retired, people think I have nothing to do, so give me a call.”

Early voting in Miller and Bowie Counties opens Monday.