Primary elections are scheduled for March 3, and early voting begins Feb. 17. Among other decisions, Carroll County residents will choose a Republican candidate for county judge to face Democrat Jim Wallace in the general election in November.
Incumbent David Writer was elected in 2022. Before that, he worked in the county’s Road Department for 14 years. In his own words, Writer “started at the bottom” before working his way into positions of increasing responsibility. As Road Dept. foreman, Writer had an opportunity to learn the importance of explaining the county’s plans. “If you go talk to people, and you’re straight with them, they’ll usually understand,” he said. “It’s important to acknowledge their concerns and discuss options.”
Writer began his term in 2023, and rising costs immediately affected the Road Department. Those costs have taken another sharp increase, affecting asphalt, concrete, and other materials. Equipment costs have also soared, with a new grader now costing more than $400,000. Writer has explained the financial challenges facing the county roads system, and that issue came to the forefront again when he explained his decision to focus his efforts on existing county roads.
A county judge’s main responsibility is maintaining county roads, but Writer has also worked to improve the efficient interactions of the various county offices. He renegotiated a contract which saved the county $275,000 in healthcare expenses.
A wind-turbine development south of Green Forest has dominated quorum court discussions for the past few years, and Writer made clear from the start that he personally opposed this installation. The majority of justices of the peace on the quorum court agreed with Writer’s concerns about possibly subjecting the county to a crippling lawsuit if JPs passed legislation targeted at one company, with signed contracts already in place. Some opponents of the wind farm have argued that Writer should have prevented the use of county roads for equipment deliveries, but permitting for oversize loads comes through the state. JPs have passed a moratorium that will affect any future large-scale wind or solar projects.
Dianna Baird moved to Carroll County five years ago and now resides in the Beaver Lake area. She is currently retired but cites a work history in county government in California. Although her background there did not include responsibilities for hiring and firing, Baird said she developed guidelines and policies. She points to her work in purchasing and in human resources as qualifications for the job.
Baird has expressed reservations about the wind turbines currently under construction. She agreed that Writer did not have a vote when the JPs debated this issue but noted that he signed a road-use agreement with Scout Clean Energy, saying that document does not sufficiently protect the county.
Another question about county road maintenance has been in the news recently, as a resident living just outside Eureka Springs has demanded the county maintain a section of road classified as public, but not part of the county roads system. Baird said she would expand the maintenance schedule to include any roads served by a mail carrier, and emphasized her concerns for public safety.
Although she does not have experience with maintaining a rural road system, Baird said she will begin with an inventory of equipment, materials, and staff. She is prepared to seek new funding sources and cost-saving measures, including the possibility of partnerships with other counties.
Carroll County JPs have researched the possibility of building a new courtroom for the Eastern District, to replace the cramped courtroom in Berryville. Baird objected to the money spent on the preliminary phases of that project, and said voters were not sufficiently consulted before JPs began researching the project.
Voters will have another opportunity to hear the candidates at a forum on Feb. 19 at the Berryville Community Center. That forum will be sponsored by the Berryville Chamber of Commerce. Early voting begins Feb. 17, at St. Elizabeth’s Parish Center in Eureka Springs and First United Methodist Church in Berryville. For the first time, early voting will also be available at The Depot in Green Forest. A total of six polling places will be open on Election Day, and county residents can vote at any of those locations.
Hours for early voting are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Early voting will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 2. On Election Day, the polls will remain open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Voters can check their registration by entering their name and birthdate at VoterView Arkansas.
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT! I don’t know where you get the idea that the permitting of oversize limits for County roads comes from the State. The State has authority to set overweight and oversize limits on STATE ROADS. The County Judge has the power (and the duty) to set appropriate weight and size limits on COUNTY ROADS. In the Road Use and Maintenance Agreement signed by Judge Writer, he agreed to issue oversize and overweight permits to Scout for County roads. Had he not done so, I wonder if Scout could have built the Nimbus Project. Your article sounds like a campaign ad for David Writer. Carroll County needs sound governmental administration generally, not just for our system of roads. Dianna Baird has the needed skills for the post. Some complain that she worked in California. I’ve met and talked with Dianna Baird. She is as fiscally and politically conservative as they come. So what if she spent time in California? Ronald Reagan was from California and look what he did for the country.