Current Justice of the Peace District 3, Lamont Richie is not running for re-election, and Laurie “Harrie” Farrow and Ferguson “Fergie” Stewart are vying for his seat on the quorum court.
Harrie Farrow
Farrow said there are two things she loves most about Carroll County and they are why she moved here.
“One is our beautiful Ozark nature, and the other is our community,” Farrow said. “Both are essential for our quality of life and District 3’s tourism-based economy. When I’m elected, I will focus on protecting these precious assets, as well as assuring that our county tax dollars are spent wisely and conscientiously. My other priorities include working with the Latino community towards furthering their involvement in our county’s decision making and leadership, exploring public transportation and internet connectivity options, and addressing domestic violence.”
Farrow was co-owner/founder and business manager of a successful tourism-related business for 18 years. She currently works as a bookkeeper and has helped local small business get their bookkeeping in order.
She served on the Eureka Springs Parks Commission in the 1990s, is Communications Director of Indivisible Eureka Springs and a nationally known advocate for the LGBTQ community. She serves on the board of the non-profit BiNet USA. She is also on the Latino outreach committee of the Democratic Party of Carroll County and a national activist for healthcare, immigration and women’s rights.
“Being an elected official has always struck me as a position of great responsibility and a major commitment to community and country,” Farrow said. “Being involved with advocacy and activism made me very aware of the need for leaders who put people over money. I found myself at this point in time, with all my experiences and after twenty-six years of living in our county, feeling qualified and inspired to take on the responsibility. I know I have what it takes, and I know Carroll County deserves my level of commitment, abilities, and experience.”
She said she also feels very strongly that her district, which is almost exclusively the City of Eureka Springs, not only deserves, but needs, a JP who truly represents the diversity and inclusive mindset indicative of our community.
“I’ve been endorsed by the incumbent, Lamont Richie, the Progressive Arkansas Women PAC, and the Victory Fund,” Farrow said. “I have also been named a 2018 Champion by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.”
Ferguson “Fergie” Stewart
Stewart said if elected he would start the process of getting the Carroll County offices into the 21st century by getting all the senior staff trained on new methods of communications and use of the Internet services.
“Recently the quorum court actually was going to spend taxpayers’ money to print employee handbooks due to the fact some employees did not know how to use email,” Stewart said.
Stewart is a U.S. Army veteran and served three tours of duty overseas. His job in the military was microwave telecommunication systems repair.
“I was able to use my skill after my service to land a job with MCI Telecommunications,” Stewart said. “I excelled and was quickly recognized by being awarded the top 10 percent of the company only two years after being hired. In my career of thirty-two years I designed and established standards for many large projects that included the basic Internet and the current plane-to-tower communications that are deployed by the FAA.
“I also managed a customer testing lab for Fortune 100 companies for Verizon business. I moved to Eureka Springs in 2012 and my wife and I started two business. One was the BookNook at Pine Mountain Village and the other was a vending machine service company. I am currently the Secretary of the Basin Spring Masonic Lodge and also serve as the chaplain and service officer for the American Legion Post#9. I am a sitting Eureka Springs Parks commissioner for the past five years.
Stewart said he is running for JP because he truly believes this county should have more opportunities for new business and should be able to provide better services than it currently does in both reduced taxpayer obligations and a better quality of life for the residents of Carroll County.