Alexander candidates form group for November election

Several candidates, running in the City of Alexander election, have banded together and are promoting themselves to voters as the best chance to cure the city's ills. They're calling themselves the "Red and White Team," which is the color of their signs and promotional materials.

The "Team" includes one candidate for mayor and five candidates running for eight of the alderman spots. Former mayor Paul Mitchell is running with the group for mayor. Incumbents Juanita Wilson and Andrea Bearden; former alderman Dan Church; along with newcomers Ken Miller and Melissa Ratliff are running for the alderman positions. Bearden is the only one unopposed.

They have already begun their group-campaign by handing out a two-sided flier, which highlights why voters should choose them over their opponents. The "Red and White Team" also had a hayride through Alexander Friday evening (October 3) and a meet-and-greet at Elmo's Grocery the next day.

The flier, entitled "Let Us Work For You," starts with Mitchell and a bullet list of some of his accomplishments as mayor. The list includes, "Three streets resurfaced in south Alexander," a "New phone system in city hall" and having street lights installed along Hwy. 111/South Alexander Road and Brookwood. There is also a pledge to, "Take no salary" as mayor.

Mitchell became mayor when he defeated Mayor Shirley Johnson in the November, 2010 election. He then lost a recall election in November, 2012.

Also running for mayor are incumbent Michelle Hobbs, Corliss "Jerry" Ball and current Ward-1 Alderman Farren Wadley. Hobbs was the city recorder until she was appointed by the previous council to fill the vacancy left by Mitchell losing the recall election.

Running for Ward-2 Position-1 on the "Team" is Kenneth D. Miller. He is being challenged by Stephanie Beck.

The flier describes Miller as a, "Retired military veteran" and "Retired business owner." He also vows to, "Not take a salary" as alderman.

The Ward-2 Position-1 seat was held by Brad Scott. He resigned in June and it was declared vacant by council members at the August meeting. Aldermen are waiting for someone to submit a resume so they can appoint an individual to fill the vacancy until January 1.

Incumbent Juanita Wilson is running for re-election to the Ward-2 Position-2 seat. This is her first term as alderman and according to the flier she has already, "Obtained $5,000 to equip (a) new/used fire truck" and has, "Worked with (state) representatives to obtain AG (attorney general) opinions." Wilson is currently not accepting the monthly $100 paid to city aldermen. According to the flier she will continue that practice.

Wilson is opposed by former Ward-2 Alderman Andy Mullins. She defeated Mullins in the 2012 election.

Ward-3 Position-1 Alderman Andrea Bearden is unopposed but has joined the "Red and White Team" to help the others get elected. She also appears on the flier as having, "Reworked (the) Organization of City Council" manual, which aldermen use as a guide in conducting city business. She will, "Hold city officials accountable for your tax dollars." Also on the flier it says she has not accepted the alderman salary and will continue that practice in the future.

Bearden was appointed in October, 2013 to complete the unexpired term of Dan Church after he resigned. Church was elected in November, 2012.

Former Ward-3 alderman Dan Church is running for the Position-2 spot on the council. As a member of the "Red and White Team" his credentials as a, "Disabled military veteran" and working, "Hard for Alexander's citizens" are being touted. He too has promised to, "Not take a salary." He resigned in 2013 when Mayor Michelle Hobbs told him he couldn't decline the monthly salary.

Former Alderman Harvey C. Howard is also vying for the Ward-3 Position-2 spot. That seat is currently held by Sam Gregory who is not seeking re-election. Howard ran for re-election in 2012 when he held the Position-1 spot and was defeated by Church.

Melissa Ratliff is running for the Ward-4 Position-1 seat as a member of the "Red and White Team." According to the flier she is, "Already working (as a city volunteer) in Alexander for (her) student college credit" and is, "Goal oriented."

Ratliff is running against Monroe Cates for the council seat currently held by Faye McKeon who is not seeking election. McKeon was appointed to that position in early 2013 when Alderman Henry Tacket died shortly after being elected in 2012.

On the flip side of the flier the "Red and White Team" has a few things to say about the opposition.

In the race for mayor the "Team" reminds voters that candidate Farren Wadley, "Voted for (former Mayor) Shirley Johnson's retirement (pension)" and received a "Letter of Caution" from the Arkansas Ethics Commission for an, "Ethics violation" when he used, "City property for personal gain." He was using the City of Alexander Community Center for his martial arts business without city approval. The flier also alleges Wadley, "Wants position for salary only."

Mayoral candidate Corliss "Jerry" Ball has a history with the city. According to the flier he, "Signed (for an) illegal loan with (former Mayor) Shirley Johnson for fire truck lost by current mayor." The loan exceeded the five-year maximum allowed under the Arkansas Constitution and was repossessed when current Mayor Michelle Hobbs stopped making loan payments. Also, Ball was, "Appointed to (the) council in 2012, voted to increase city recorder pay to $500 a month" and "Only served two months and quit." Current Mayor Michelle Hobbs was recorder at the time.

A separate flier on Mayor Hobbs will be distributed at a later date.

Although he's running unopposed for the Ward-1 Position-1 seat on the council the "Red and White Team" didn't leave out Louis Hobbs. He is the, "Current mayor's husband," and the group claims this is, "Just another tactic for control of city hall (by Mayor Hobbs)." The position is currently held by Ceola Bailey who is not seeking re-election.

Seeking the Ward-1 Position-2 seat are Jean Cummings Fisher and Jeffery S. Watson. While there are no members of the "Red and White Team" running for that position the flier does provide some insight into the two candidates.

According to the flier Fisher has, "Shown no interest in city business." It appears she has never attended a city council meeting.

Watson, "Worked for the City of Alexander Police and Fire simultaneously, (which was) found to be illegal by state auditors." He worked for the city while Shirley Johnson was mayor. According to the flier Watson, "Was kicked out of the police academy for attitude and threatening (an) instructor."

Watson's wife, Regina Watson, was an Alexander alderman but was defeated for re-election in 2012. She always voted for whatever former Mayor Shirley Johnson wanted and was one of the seven council members who voted to appoint Hobbs as mayor to fill the vacancy created when Mitchell lost the recall election in 2012.

Stephanie Beck is running for the Ward-2 Position-1 seat on the council against "Red and White Team" member Kenneth D. Miller. The flier says she has, "Shown no interest in city business other than running on (the) ballot." Beck has run and, "Was defeated in two prior elections."

In the race for Ward-2 Position-2 former Alderman Andy Mullins is running against incumbent Juanita Wilson. Wilson defeated Mullins in the 2012 election.

The "Red and White Team" says Mullins, "Spear-headed Shirley Johnson's $800" monthly pension, "Actively participated" in Farren Wadley's ethics violation for which Wadley was ultimately found guilty and he, "Wants power, illegally fired employees while alderman and threatened others."

Former Alderman Harvey C. Howard is running against Dan Church for the Ward-3 Position-2 spot. The "Team" wants to remind voters of Howard's voting record. He, "Continually voted in favor of ex-police Chief H. Walters despite citizens' complaints," "Did not consider how his vote would affect citizens" and he, "Has admitted to 'going along' with majority just to keep peace."

The seat is currently held by Sam Gregory who is not seeking re-election. Howard ran for re-election in 2012 when he held the Position-1 spot and was defeated by Dan Church.

Monroe Cates is running against "Team" member Melissa Ratliff for the Ward-4 Position-1 seat. According to the "Red and White Team" Cates has, "Shown no interest in city business other than running on ballot," and "Was defeated in two prior elections."

Lonny Chapman is the alderman for Ward-4 Position-2. He is seeking re-election and is unopposed.