Voters in Washington County gathered at the Fayetteville Public Library Tuesday evening for a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Washington County. The nonpartisan event gave five candidates for the Arkansas House of Representatives a chance to share their top priorities with local residents.
Education and health care top the agenda
Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen (District 9) opened the discussion by emphasizing the need for “increasing the funding for public schools,” noting that “operations, maintenance, special education teachers” all require more resources.
District 11 hopeful Rey Hernandez echoed the education theme, adding that “higher education, better education, public education is at the top of my list.” Hernandez, who works for UAMS, also highlighted the importance of “healthcare and access to healthcare” for his constituents.
Fiscal stewardship and public‑safety funding
Business owner Jamie Atkinson, running in District 19, framed his platform around getting the “best return on investment for taxpayer dollars,” arguing that current spending practices are not delivering value for Arkansans.
District 24 candidate Ryan Intchauspe broadened the conversation to include “maternal mortality, hunger in the nation, tax reform, feeding and paying first responders.” He called for “increasing pay for police officers” and expanding training for law‑enforcement personnel.
Equality and civil rights
Finally, Courtney King, seeking the District 25 seat, said her focus begins with “basic human rights and equality.” She warned against policies that “bias and put minorities to the side,” positioning her campaign as a defense of inclusive governance.
County judge candidates also present
In addition to the state‑house hopefuls, the forum featured the two candidates for Washington County judge, Dana Deree and Tim Shepard, who fielded questions on county administration and public‑service priorities.
Future forums and missing candidates
The League of Women Voters announced another forum for Thursday evening, which will focus on the November ballot measures and the race for Arkansas Secretary of State. The organization noted that several House candidates—Laura Marsh, Charlene Fite, Rep. Chad Puryear, Matthew Goff, Rep. Rebecca Burkes, Rep. Steve Unger, and Rep. Kendra Moore—could not attend due to prior commitments or did not respond to invitations.
These candidate forums provide Washington County voters a direct line to the individuals who may soon represent them in the state legislature and county government, reinforcing the community’s role in shaping policy on education, health care, fiscal responsibility, and public safety.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
