Local Events

  • Mon., March 25 at 5:30 p.m. - Emerge Step Forward Online Workshop; Emerge Arkansas & PAWPAC are joining forcing again to bring you our Step Forward workshop - an opportunity to find out what factors you should consider and how to prepare for a future run for office. What better way to celebrate Women's History Month than to explore how to make HERstory yourself! Register to attend HERE.

  • Tues., March 26 at 8 a.m. - Coffee with Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman online event; Mayor Orman will be joined by Director of Planning, Tyler Overstreet, and other city staff members to provide insights into various development projects slated for Bentonville. Additionally, attendees will receive an update on PlanBentonville and recent initiatives such as Design Week. Register to attend HERE.

  • Tues., March 26th from 7 - 8:30 p.m. - Emerge Arkansas Fundraiser: Beer & Bold Women: A Women’s History Month Celebration at Greenhouse Aleworks (718 N 2nd) in Rogers. With purchased tickets, you’ll get a flight of beer, hors d’oeuvers, great company with amazing women, and you’ll be supporting the work of Emerge Arkansas.

  • Thurs., March 28th from noon to 1:30 p.m. - Building Better Futures online discussion hosted by Groundwork to make the case for transect zoning in small cities and towns. Register HERE.

  • Thurs., March 28th at 7 p.m. - Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition Monthly Community Meeting in Fayetteville (205 N College Ave). Or attend online HERE. Receive updates on the lot of back and forth on exploration and possible use of ARPA and other capital funds for possible jail expansions, regional jail expansion is being explored, and the Arkansas prison system and Governor Sanders have been back and forth on the addition of prison beds.

  • Thurs., April 4th from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Arkansas Kids Count Policy Roundtable at the Jones Center (922 E Emma St) in Springdale; The 2025 General Assembly Session is just around the corner, and it is time to think about what laws you’d like to advocate for to improve the well-being of our state’s kids. In this series of roundtable discussions, you and your fellow advocates will talk about what needs and issues you see in your community and what potential policy solutions you’d like to see. During the event you will have the opportunity to discuss multiple topics and connect with other advocates. Register HERE.

  • Wed., April 10th at 6 p.m. - Circles NWA presents: Home is Where the Hardship Is at the Fayetteville Library Event Center; Join the next Circles “Becoming Visible” event as they go beyond the headlines to explore the real experiences of individuals and families facing the stress of housing in Arkansas. Register HERE.

Community Involvement Opportunities

Get more involved with the Democratic Party of Benton County!

The following two opportunities are a great way for you to actively participate in progress for Benton County. For additional details on the items outline below, go to the DPBC webpage HERE or review the presentation HERE.

⭐ Become a State Committee Representative for the Democratic Party of Benton County (DPBC)!

Every 2 years, the DPBC will elect State Committee Members to represent Benton County for the 2024-2026 term beginning following the November General Election. These 7 county representatives serve two year terms and are responsible for voting on all items brought to the State Committee (including changes to party rules, state candidate filing fees, and electing state party leadership). If you wish to apply for this position, complete this Application by 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 5th. Want to learn more about this position? Ask me! I’ve been serving since the fall of 2018.

⭐Become a County Delegate to the State Democratic Party Convention in Little Rock!

The DPBC is responsible for electing 49 county representatives and 4 alternates for the Special State Convention in June. These delegates will play a pivotal role in voting for Arkansas's representation at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. Applicants must be available to attend the State Convention on June 8, 2024, at the Embassy Suites in downtown Little Rock. If you wish to apply for this position, complete FORM A from the Democratic Party of Arkansas by noon on Wednesday, April 3rd.

Municipal Government Awareness

Bella Vista
Bentonville

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar 26 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • At the last council meeting, the council unanimously approved a $2.25 million e-bike rebate program scheduled to kick-off in July. Read more from Thomas Saccente with the NWA Dem Gazz HERE

    • Malorie Marrs was appointed to the Bentonville City Clerk position to serve the remainder of Kirby Romines’ term due to her resignation (moved). This position will be up for election this November.

    • State of the City and Community Recognition Celebration will be on Thursday, April 4th at 6 p.m. at the Bentonville Community Center (1101 SW Citizens Circle)- register HERE.

Cave Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar 26 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)

Centerton

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr 9 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)

  • Items of Note:

    • The city is accepting applications to fill the council vacancy for Ward 1. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 1st. For more information and the application, go HERE.

Gravette

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar 26 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)

  • Items of Note:

    • Gravette is encouraging citizens to take the broadband test to help inform upcoming decisions on broadband updates for the state - test your connection HERE

Lowell

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr 16 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • At last week’s city council meeting, the council approved an $8.6 million sewer project expected to be completed by end of 2025 and will address extending sewer availability to the west side of town

Pea Ridge

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr 9 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole

  • Items of Note:

    • Subscribe to Mayor Nathan See’s newsletter HERE

Rogers

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar 26 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)

  • Items of Note:

    • April Legere (council representative of Ward 3) announced she will be resigning at the end of the month. If you live in ward 3, dust off your resumes and keep an eye out for more information on the process to fill the remainder of her term (through the end of 2024).

Siloam Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr 2 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)

  • Items of Note:

    • Siloam Springs will host an interactive town hall open house on Thursday, Apr. 11th from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall’s board room. Citizens are encouraged to stop by and learn more about the proposed annexation map under discussion, ask questions, and provide feedback.

    • Siloam Springs Solar Eclipse Viewing Party will be held on April 8th at Memorial Park (317 S. Mt. Olive St.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Springdale

County Government Awareness

Bentonville Public School District

Last month the project to address affordable teacher housing hit a roadblock with the Bentonville City Council voting 4-3 to not approve the rezoning request for the land which would have been used to build the housing. Read the reports below to learn more about what happened in Bentonville, what projects are happening in other parts of the state, and what some potential next steps will be:

Benton County Quorum Court

  • Quorum Court approved sending the following to voters this November:

    • Proposed increase in dues for both the Hickory Creek and Pleasure Heights Fire Departments from $40 to $100 on each residence and business. The $40 dues were established in 2007, and both departments do not have enough funding to provide adequate services at the current rate.

  • Upcoming County Meetings:

    • Quorum Court - Mar. 26th at 6 p.m. (Admin Bldg)

    • Development Review Committee - Mar. 27th at 10 a.m. (Admin Bldg)

    • Planning Board Meeting - Apr. 3rd at 6 p.m.

    • Finance Committee Meeting - Apr. 9th at 6 p.m. (Admin Bldg)

    • Development Review Committee - April 10th at 10 a.m. (Admin Bldg)

State Government Awareness

LEARNS Act:

  • ACTION ITEM: State Finalizing rules for public school student community service graduation requirements (starting for students graduating 26-27)

    • Read Antoineete Grajeda’s reporting in the Arkansas Advocate HERE

    • Review the proposed rules HERE

    • Email public comments to [email protected] (reference Arkansas Code Annotated §6-16-1901); I also highly encourage cc’ing your public school district superintendent

  • Casualty of the cost of LEARNS? - Education Cooperation (co-ops) funding to be cut

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:

Shocking no one, the governor’s political consultant/campaign manager will be leading an opposition group to try to disqualify or defeat three constitutional amendments from appearing on your 2024 general election ballot: the abortion, education and marijuana amendments. Read the reporting on the opposition group by Antoinette Grajeda at the Arkansas Advocate HERE.

Election Information

Benton County Election Results Finalized

  • Finalized by the Election Commission on Friday, March 15th

  • The requested hand recount for the Republican JP district 1 race by the defeated candidate, Michael McCaskey, produced no changes in outcome: 791 votes for incumbent Jeff Dunn, 712 votes for McCaskey and 226 undervotes (where the voter did not make a choice for that specific position). The requested recount cost McCaskey about $375.

  • The Avoca Fire Department dues vote ended up with a 2 (yes, two) vote difference between FOR and AGAINST; still passed, but it was close!

Political Training Opportunities

Democratic National Committee Virtual Trainings:

National Democratic Training Committee Virtual Trainings:

Run for Something Virtual Training:

  • Volunteer Training Call - Wed., Apr. 3 at 7 p.m.; Learn more about Run for Something's vision for recruiting and supporting young progressive Democrats to run for local and state office, and how YOU can help!

Odds & Ends

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