The November 3, 2026 General Election will be a repeat of 2022, minus two other candidates and a run-off election. This time, though, it’s Mayor Crystal Herrmann being challenged by former Mayor Paul Mitchell. In 2022, Herrmann, a political newcomer, unseated Mitchell after a December run-off election.
A questionnaire was Emailed to the two candidates. The responses are below.
This is Part-2 of a three part series on the election. Candidates are listed alphabetically.
Mayor Crystal Herrmann
[Did not respond to questionnaire.]
Paul Mitchell has lived in the same home for over 26 years. First as a resident of what was Woodland Hills, now known as South Alexander since the annexation in 2006.
Mitchell retired from, “AT&T, Construction & Engineering Digital Electronics Group, System's Programming, Electronics Installations/23 years.”
Before working for AT&T his employment background includes serving as a municipal police officer/deputy sheriff, a certified EMT, firefighter, an engineer with Snider Telecom & KARN Radio, eight years as a store manager for AutoZone Corporation, and four years as a store manager for Quik Lube Corporation.
Mitchell said he, “Received Medal of Merit (from the) Desha County Sheriff's Office.”
His previous political experience includes serving four years on the Alexander City Council then ten years as Mayor. He lost a recall election in November, 2012 but was elected again in November 2014.
Mitchell touts a list of accomplishments which began while on the council then continued while serving as mayor. I, “Started a Street (?) when I was on the Council by working with Mayor Johnson,” he began. “[B]ut I as Mayor, took it to the next level. [W]hat you see today is far beyond 1 (one) lawn mower, couple of weed eaters (and a) broken down tractor. I bought dump trucks, salt sand spreader's, power generators on all city facilities, over $1,000,000.00 in (street) Grants and using city funds for street overlays.”
He points to improvements in the City Park including the, “Fountain, power & water, lighting, walking trails, Gazebo, fencing, flag poles, benches, covered areas with swings,” and improving the entrance road into the park (Robert Evans Rd.), “from gravel to asphalt.” plus, “developed (the) paved parking area.”
When his first term as mayor began January 1, 2011 Mitchell notes the police department had, “broken down vehicle's with only three Officer's and with the county Sheriffs working nights and weekends,” protecting the city.
Mitchell says during his first ten years as mayor improvements to the police department included, “new vehicle's, added 7 more officer's, (and) all new equipment.”
Other improvements Mitchell includes in his list of accomplishments are, “Cut property taxes from 5 mil to 1.5 mil the lowest in Saline & Pulaski County, brought in a Dollar (General) Store, brought in a Big Red which is now a Circle K at Corner Stone Rd., brought in another Circle K at Hwy. 5, brought in the Marijuana Dispensary on Hwy. #5, put in a(n) electronic sign on city hall property, got all city employees health benefits, life insurance, pay increases from $10.00 to $25.00 hr. and above over time, changed the administration office phone system with extensions and voice mail, brought fiber optic in building, I worked with the State of Arkansas Real Estate office to acquire 65 acres Human Development Center for free hoping to make the property a Shopping Center, grants for the Fire Dept. washing machine & dryer for their turnouts, machine to refill their air tanks, replaced culverts all over the city for drainage, remodeled inside City Hall to enlarge the P.D. space to accommodate more than 3 people, and I could go (on) but you get the picture.”
As mayor Mitchell was a member of the Emergency Services Board Saline County, which was responsible for choosing Pafford EMS to provide ambulance services to all of Saline County, including the City of Alexander.
Mitchell says he has some unfinished business to complete.
Mitchell wants, “To finish projects that were not completed; splash pad next to Community Center #2, Also (establish a) Heating & Cooling Center #2, (more) Street over lays (paving), Changing Hwy. 111 to North & South Main Street, Go back to work on a Grocery Store (at) HDC (Human Development Center).”
He wants to continue trying to develop the HDC property into a shopping Center and call it “Brook Crossing.” The name is derived from his original plan to extend, “Brookwood Road thru HDC to Hwy. 111,”
Mitchell wants to increase Alexander’s land mass by, “[A]nnexing North of Hwy. #5 & 111 (North Alexander Road) the Cemetery by moving North all the way to Baseline Road, Getting Restaurant of some type such as Huddle House, etc.. I was working Waffle House, but they choose (sic) Hwy. #5 at Otter Creek instead.”
He wants to continue his planned improvements to the City Park including, “A stage at the back of the park, finish up the center midway to bring in a carnival. [T]hese are item's I did not get to finish, there are many more!”
Mitchell’s education background includes, “Graduated Monticello High School 1971, Attended University of Arkansas Monticello, Graduated Arkansas Tech., Degree (in) Electrical & Electronic Engineering / Student Board Member IEEE, Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers / Dean's List / GPA 3.6, Certified Municipal Official, Graduate Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, (and) FBI Training Courses.”
On the personal side Mitchell is a member of the Alexander First Baptist Church. He is married to wife Genny and has four, “Grown Sons, 3 Grand Sons.”
EARLY VOTING
Pulaski County
Saline County
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