More than 70 people gathered in the Holiday Island ballroom for a candidate forum featuring HI City Council candidates as well as one candidate for Lt. Governor, one for Congress, both County Judge candidates, and candidates for JP Ward 1, which includes Holiday Island. The event was hosted by the Holiday Island Hospitality Association with donations from local businesses to provide refreshments and food to attendees.
Each candidate was given 2 minutes to give a stump speech to attendees with Lt. Governor candidate Michael Kalagias opening. Kalagias is the Libertarian candidate for the seat and noted that there is no Democrat or Independent candidate in the race, only his Republican opponent Leslie Rutledge; Kalagias joked his race was the least important of Arkansas races, spoke on his experience as public chair of a public utility as well as volunteer fire department experience. He also said he’d like to participate in the state’s ethics commission and focus on dealing with ethics violations by elected officials and governmental staff.
County Judge candidates Jim Wallace and incumbent David Writer followed. Wallace spoke on his experience as a volunteer fire department member, and noted the growth happening in western Carroll County, saying he’d invite people to plan for that growth as county judge as infrastructure use grows.
Writer focused on his record as county judge, saying that he had run in 2022 to remove the “good ol’ boy” system and saying he’d succeeded. He said his goal for the judge’s seat to “run by the law” and he has helped drop the county’s budget including saving $275,000 in county insurance costs via renegotiation. Both candidates emphasized future planning for the county in a question about their plans over the four years. Wallace said he’d look into creating an office for public safety.
JP Ward 1 candidates Al Selleck and Sharon Lawlor spoke on their experience with Selleck noting his time on the Carroll County Ambulance Board and knowledge on budgeting through his years of retail work. Lawlor has served on HI’s city council and owns a Bed & Breakfast in Eureka Springs and said she would never hesitate to listen to those in her district.
Robb Ryerse, the candidate running for Congressional Seat 3 against Steve Womack spoke on rising costs to the layman, saying that “DC” cares for more the wealthy and well connected over the average American. He also brought up that Womack has not held a town hall in the district for 7 years, saying that Womack can’t represent constituents if he doesn’t show up to meet with them. At the end of the event, more time was given for attendees to speak with Ryerse.
Ryerse noted he wanted to push Congress to take back the authorization from the President to levy taxes, arguing that recent inflation has been because of the executive’s tariff policy. He also said he wants to tackle healthcare, social-security solvency, and support for SNAP benefits. He also said that unlike Womack, he’d come back to speak with those in his district, promising to show up.
All Holiday Island council and mayoral seats are running unopposed but each still took a few moments to speak with mayoral candidate Dan Kees using his time to implore citizens to support the long-range plan for the city to absorb the duties of HISID. He also mentioned that this election is another cycle where Ward 3 has a position with no council representation in the election.
Council candidates Kevin Graham, Ken Mills, Pat Ryber, and Craig Watson all spoke about their work backgrounds, with Mills also mentioning he was chairman of the committee to incorporate HI as well as a member of the BOC and HIHA, and treasurer of HI Rotary.