The three Republican El Dorado mayoral candidates who will face each other in the May 22 primary answered a variety of questions Monday about their roles, goals and vision for the city if elected.
Incumbent Frank Hash and challengers Bill Luther and Sgt. Chris Lutman, of the El Dorado Police Department, participated in a candidate forum that was hosted in the South Arkansas Community College Library Auditorium.
The trio appeared alongside Union County Tax Collector Paula Beard and Karen Scott, who is challenging Beard to be the next head of the tax collector’s office, in a candidate forum that was presented by the Union County NAACP and the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce.
Jeremy “Jayo” Owens, vice president of the NAACP, served as moderator, pitching questions that were selected from audience submissions.
Most of the questions and answers from the mayoral candidates centered on economic development, including the mayor’s role in job and business creation.
Hash reiterated the position he has held on the matter since he first ran for mayor and was elected in 2011.
“The whole national economy is based on a capitalistic system. The government is terrible about creating jobs and trying to create jobs,” Hash. “But the government is good at assisting folks who are here and want to come here start businesses and services.”
Luther, a retired engineer and customer service manager from Entergy, pointed to his extensive experience in economic development, having served as chairman and a member of the executive committee of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce and as class director for the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute.
“”I believe it’s a teamwork effort, starting first with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and flowing down to (County Judge Mike Loftin), who is very involved with economic development, then the mayor and the city council,” Luther said.
He said the Chamber of Commerce is the designated economic development arm of Union County and performs such activities for the city under an annual contract for services.
Having previously served on the El Dorado School Board, Lutman said the board addressed economic development issues by tweaking school curriculum to correspond with the needs of existing industries and their expansion projects.
Moreover, Lutman said a belief in El Dorado and its attributes and amenities, including the Murphy Arts District, is the No. 1 economic development tool the city can use to attract tourists and business, industry and individuals who are looking to relocate.
“We have jobs here, but do you believe it? Do you believe in El Dorado? If you don’t, then you’re not going to be a selling point,” Lutman said.
The winner of the Republican primary on May 22 will face Democratic candidate Veronica Smith-Creer in the November general election.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.