MH School Board candidates speak out, debate planned

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Candidates for the upcoming runoff for the Position Three seat on the Mountain Home School Board, incumbent Ben Strider and challenger Daniel Smakal, have released information about themselves and a debate is planned Thursday evening at 5:30 in Dunbar Auditorium. According to Sherry Mohler, President of Mountain Home Educators Association, due to a low voter turnout in the September 19 school board election, the Educators Association is hoping to bring attention to the runoff, by hosting the debate.

Early voting will begin in the basement of the Baxter County Courthouse on Tuesday, during regular business hours from 8:00 until 4:30. The Association’s hope is people will come out and meet the candidates Thursday and hear their qualifications. The runoff election will take place October 10th from 7:30 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening.

Incumbent Ben Strider came to Mountain Home in 1978 with his parents. He graduated as a Mountain Home Bomber in 1986. He received his engineering degree in 1992 from the University of Houston and his MBA from Arkansas State University. He is also a deacon at the Mountain Home Church of Christ. He owns Strider Consulting, Inc., a civil engineering/surveying company. He was elected to the school board in September 2009 and serves on the district Classified Personnel Policy Committee.

Strider credits the entire board for accomplishments across the district. Particular examples he cites during his tenure include an increase of carryover funds from less than $2 million to approximately $6 million, an increase in the salary schedule and bonuses given to teachers above the annual guaranteed rate, investments in improving facilities and increased security on campuses.

He says academically the board continues to invest heavily in students. According to Strider, the district has spent close to $1 million over the last two years and has budgeted another $600,000 on technology to get devices into the hands of students in an attempt to achieve a better academic focus, while at the same time maintaining one of the lowest school millage rates in the state.

Daniel Smakal is also a Mountain Home High School graduate and describes himself as a volunteer with a voice for kids, teachers, and the community. He says he is available with an open door policy for all viewpoints, ideas and concerns that better the school district and community.

Smakal says he is dedicated to supporting the intellectual and social growth of students in a safe, purposeful, stimulating learning environment, to inspire them to become productive citizens in an ever-changing global society.

He says he is accountable and a leadership-driven individual and is a U.S. Marine veteran, firefighter and business owner with proven leadership abilities and accountability to the country, community and workplace.

Election Commission Vice Chair Bob Bodenhamer says in September’s election, 300 ballots were cast in the election, with four under votes, meaning although the ballots were cast, a selection was not made for either of the two candidates.

Baxter County and Circuit Clerk Canda Reese says 23,292 are registered to vote in the Mountain Home School District.

The Mountain Home Educators Association hopes the debate will inspire more of those registered voters to participate in the debate and upcoming election.

Four polling sites will remain unchanged for the runoff in the Mountain Home School District.

East Side Baptist Church will serve as the site for those who normally vote there, as well as the Baxter County Fairgrounds, the Buford Community Center and the L.C. Sammons Youth Center.

The Midway Fire Station will serve as the combined site for those who normally vote there, as well as the Lakeview Civic Center, Three Brothers Community Church and Marion County voters in the Mountain Home School District.

Northeast Lakeside Fire Station will combine those voters with Gamaliel and Henderson Fire Station voters.

St. Andrews Episcopal Church will combine those voters with Clarkridge Fire Station and College and North Church of Christ voters.

Those with questions about their polling location may call the Baxter County and Circuit Clerk’s office at 870-425-3475.

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