Elkins city council member Anna Drake has officially entered the race for Elkins mayor, after filing with the Washington County Elections on Aug. 4 ahead of the Aug. 5 noon deadline. She’s currently unopposed, however, that could change.
Requirements for Candidates
Candidates for Mayor must have at least 30 signatures from registered voters within Elkins city limits, according to Jennifer Price with Washington County Elections.
The current Elkins Mayor Troy Reed is not running for reelection. In April, members of the city council asked Mayor Reed to step down after learning he accepted a job as a crime investigator for Washington County. Mayor Reed said he intended to stay for the remainder of his term. In May, city council passed a resolution to substantially lower the mayor’s salary to $15,000.
Sarah Duda is a member of the Elkins Chamber of Commerce, which works to enhance the close community feel of Elkins. Duda described one of the big issues in Elkins is keeping up with growth.
“People are wanting to leave Rogers and Bentonville to live more of the small-town life,” Duda said that can create issues such as having enough water and sewage infrastructure to support the population.
Duda hopes that as the town continues to grow, the community remains close.
“I think it’s just so important for whoever runs to be so self-aware of all of the different committees that are in Elkins like we have a Water Department, a Planning Committee, Parks and Rec… just being involved instead of just a picturesque view… you know what’s going on behind the scenes and what the true struggles are.”
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
