Happy New Year Community Members!
Welcome to the 2024 Election Year! The Arkansas Primary election will be on Tuesday, March 5th, and the Presidential General election will be on Tuesday, November 5th. This year, you can expect to receive similar information as in my previous newsletters with some additional 2024 election related specific asks and updates sprinkled in along the way. As always, if you have something you think should be shared with community members - please email me. Let’s go do some good this year in our communities!
Local Events
Friday, Jan. 5th at noon - LBJ Women’s Campaign School 2024 Cohort Info Session zoom - Join the Information Session hosted by founder and executive director, Amy Kroll. She will be covering the basics of the program, as well as answering your questions about applying, financial aid, and more! Register HERE
Friday, Jan. 5th at 1 p.m.- Benton County Election Commission Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the new Benton County Election Commission building (1428 W. Walnut St., Rogers); The building is the first standalone facility for the Election Commission and contains office space for the election employees and storage space for the election machines and equipment.
Friday, Jan. 19th at 9 a.m. - Onward Ozarks Heartland Health Caucus zoom meeting - Joining the panel on Heartland Forward’s health and wellness work are Angie Cooper, EVP, Blake Woolsey, chief communications and development officer and Maria Rodriquez-Alcala, director of programs for health and wellness. Register HERE.
Monday, Feb. 5th - Deadline to register to vote (if not already registered in Arkansas) for the March 5th primary - Register HERE
Community Involvement Opportunities
The Equality Crew is looking for new board members. If you are passionate about creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, willing to attend monthly zoom meetings, attend community events, and if you have a stubborn determination to make Arkansas an inclusive place for all - then this may be the OPPORTUNITY for YOU! Read more about roles and responsibilities HERE. Applications can be completed HERE.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Jan 15 at 5:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd) - work session
Items of Note:
Board Vacancy on the Board of Construction Appeals -
This board meets once per month, only when there is business to conduct, and is the group that listens to and decides building code related appeals and variance requests. Apply online HERE, or email your resume and letter of interest to Amanda at [email protected].
Community Interest Meeting for Founders Classical Academy Bella Vista on Tuesday, January 9th at 5:30pm at the Public Safety Building (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 9 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
Bentonville Public Art Advisory Committee and Bentonville Parks and Recreation are seeking proposals from artists to create a permanent piece of public art to be located in Phillips Park in Bentonville, Arkansas. Applications are due by Feb. 5th, form is HERE.
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 9 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.) - work session
Items of Note:
The 2024 budget is scheduled for approval during next week’s council meeting.
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 9 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Sign up for the Centerton Healthy Kids Running Series for this spring is open now - it’s a five (5) week running program in the spring and fall for kids Pre-K through 8th grade. Each HKRS Series takes place once a week and offers age appropriate running events including the 50 & 75 yard dashes, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and the 1 mile run. Kids will earn points for each race they complete based on their finish. Learn more HERE.
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 9 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE) - Committee of the Whole
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 16 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Items of Note:
Council approved the 2024 budget at the December meeting
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 9 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole
Items of Note:
In December, the council approved a raise for the mayor’s salary from $75k to $100k. Additionally, hourly city employees will see a $1.50/hr pay rate increase.
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 9 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 16 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan 9 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
The council has approved a $70.82 million budget for 2024; learn more HERE
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming Meetings:
Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. - Planning Board
Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. - Finance Committee
Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. - Committee of the Whole
Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. - Planning Board
Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. - Quorum Court
State Government Awareness
94th General Legislative Assembly:
General Assembly fiscal session will kick off later this year. Here are some important dates to be aware of:
Pre-fiscal session budget hearings will take place Wednesday, Mar. 6 - Friday, Mar. 8th
Pre-filing of appropriation bills can begin Monday, Mar. 11th
Fiscal session will convene on Wednesday, April 10th at noon
Fiscal session will end on or before Tuesday, May 9th (unless extended by a vote of ¾ of the general assembly - maximum last day allowed would be Friday, May 24th)
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
For the latest Sanders Eye Roll content:
Read Tess Vrbin from the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas governor asks Biden Administration to rescind Pentagon abortion policy after colonel’s resignation”
Read Sonny Albarado’s commentary from the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas prisons political sideshow obscures state’s real incarceration problem”
Arkansas Democrat Delegate Selection 2024
At this summer’s Arkansas delegate convention, county representatives will choose Arkansas‘s delegation to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Benton County (49) and Washington County (51) together will make up 100 of the 600 Arkansans voting on the delegation. If you’re interested in becoming one of the voting members and/or a delegate to the DNC convention, check out the process outlined below from the Democratic Party of Arkansas. The link to file the Form A can be found HERE.
Political Training Opportunities
Arena Summit
Registration is open for the in-person training convening in Atlanta from April 18th - 21st. Arena Summit is not just a conference, it is a convening with space to brainstorm and collaborate outside of the everyday urgency of movement work. There will be intentional time to build community, grapple with difficult questions, and learn from seasoned leaders and rising stars.
Two paths:
The Arena Academy Path (April 18-21) is for current and aspiring campaign staff who want to get trained, get inspired, and get hired. On this path, you’ll get Arena’s best-in-class training and access to premium career support, plus everything on the Changemaker path. APPLY by February 19!
The Changemaker Path (April 20-21) is for activists, movement leaders, and organizers who want to figure out how to maximize their impact in 2024. It’s filled with panels, discussions, workshops, and time to network. REGISTER by April 4!
Odds & Ends
Regarding one entry in the 2023 Bentonville Christmas Parade:
“One entry was the Benton County Democratic Party. Members motored along with smiles and comportment more indicative of a group in control of current events rather than one engulfed in the Natural State Republican maelstrom. Admire their tenacity. They carry on in hopes of one day celebrating a blue Christmas in our red state. And none appeared to be raving left-wing extremists Republicans are determined to protect us from.”
Read Molly Jong-Fast in Vanity Fair, “Overturning Roe Has Been a Horror Show”
Read Eric Ferkenhoff and Valerie Bauman in Newsweek, “How a Brutal Jail Death Exposes Arkansas' 'Punishing' Justice System”