Several candidates for public office gathered at Rapp’s Barren Brewing Company Monday evening for the Baxter County Contested Candidate Public Forum. Races for the Mountain Home City Council and the Baxter County Quorum Court were featured during the event broadcast live on KTLO-FM.
Economic development was one of the main topics of discussion, particularly among the city council candidates. Ward 4, Position 1 challenger Michele Linehan says she wants Mountain Home to experience growth while maintaining a “small-town feel.”
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Linehan’s opponent, incumbent Jim Bodenhamer, asked her to go into more detail about her position.
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Earlier this year, the council approved a measure to spend $40,000 on an economic-development contract with the North Central Economic Alliance. Linehan said Monday she didn’t believe it was a good investment without a professional economic developer. Ward 1, Position 1 incumbent Bob VanHaaren later defended the measure.
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Paige Wolfe is challenging VanHaaren for his seat. She said it’s her belief that small businesses are the backbone of the local community.
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The evening began with the Baxter County Quorum Court candidates. One of the issues discussed was transparency from the justices of the peace. Democrat Johnny Rickman is running to succeed District 2 JP Angela DeGroote, who is not running for reelection, and he says members of the quorum court need to spend more time in the districts they represent.
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Rickman will square off against Republican Mike McDonald in next month’s election. McDonald did not attend Monday’s forum.
Republican Rick Steiner of District 3 is the only incumbent JP with an opponent in the general election. He had a different answer on transparency.
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Democrat Donnie Huffine is challenging Steiner for his seat. Huffine was not able to attend the forum due to a prior engagement.
One of Baxter County’s largest budgets belong to the road and bridge department. Republican Bob Nault is running for District 7 after beating incumbent JP Dr. Charles Osgood in the March primary, and he says upcoming road projects are crucial for the future of the county.
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Nault will square off against Democrat Derek Huber this fall. Huber says from what he’s heard, the road and bridge department is operating on budget, and he’ll look into whether they seek an increase.
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Click here to listen to the entire forum.
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