Justice of the Peace Cliff Preston, who represents District 10 in Union County until Tuesday, said he truly enjoyed residing on the Union County Quorum Court during the term he served.
Preston ran for Union County Judge against Mike Loftin in the November General Election, giving up his seat on the quorum court. Donald Brock, who won the seat during the primary election in May, will be sworn in as District 10’s new JP on Tuesday.
Preston has said since a very young age that he has always had an interest in public service, and chose that as his career.
“I loved it, I really did,” he said, referring to serving on quorum court. “One of the biggest things I didn’t like about running for judge was that I would have to give up my seat on the quorum court, because I did enjoy it so much.”
Preston said he wishes he could still be serving on the court, “but I know Donald Brock is going to do a great job.”
He said he learned a lot while serving as a JP, including that there are many people in the county who are passionate about where they live. He said he understood that passion, being from Smackover, moving away and coming back.
“It was my goal to be back in Smackover,” he said. “I love being from here and I want Smackover to do well … There are a ton of people out there like me. That’s what I’ve learned.”
He said he also learned that there is more that can be done in the county, including educating the public on who their advocates are in the county.
“I think that I was able to do that,” he said. “At least in the time that I was in there, I was able to help more people understand what your JP could be, what we could do and how much of an advocate you have in that position, that could speak for you at the highest level of the county.”
He said his favorite part of serving on the quorum was being able to represent the people in District 10, but added that there were difficult times.
“You have to make decisions that you understand not everybody is going to be happy [with],” he said. “As long as we remember that it’s not me making the decision for myself, it’s us making the decision for everybody, I think we’re going to be OK. And we have a lot of people on the quorum court now that do that, and so I’m thankful for that.”
Preston said one of the things that passed while he was serving that he is most proud of is the communication overhaul for first responders, which is included in the upgrades approved with the county jail.
The communication overhaul will include radios that make it possible for first responders to communicate with the dispatcher.
“I think this new overhaul out at the jail is going to help the communications and it’s going to be able to make sure that our first responders can talk to each other when they need to talk to each other,” Preston said. “I think that was one of the things that I’m most proud of, was being able to be a part of that.”
Preston added that the recommendation for that came from Union County Sheriff Ricky Roberts to the jail committee, who then brought it to the quorum court.
“I can’t sit here and say I did anything, or anybody else did,” he said. “I think that was a perfect example of how it should work … with Sheriff Roberts seeing a need, bringing it to the jail committee, and then the jail committee bringing it to the entire quorum court and us being able to vote on it.”
Preston said the advice he would give to the incoming JP is to understand that they are making decisions for the people.
“I would say this to everybody and I think the majority of everybody understands this,” he said. “You’re going to be faced with a decision that may not be best for you, but it’s best for everybody. I think as long as we have that attitude and as long as we have those values about us and that character about us, we will not be able to go wrong.”
He added that he knows Brock will do that, “because he is a good man.”
Although he will not be on the quorum court anymore, he is still on the school board at Smackover/Norphlet.
Moving forward, Preston said his family is very important to him, and that they will have huge say in what he does in the future.
“Running for public office is very, very hard, but it’s very worth it I believe,” he said. “I believe it’s a worthy cause and I believe my wife understands that, even though it’s difficult.”
Preston said that in the future, if a position comes open that he feels he can do a great job in and could make better, he is “definitely not retired from public service.” He added that it’s something that will be led by God.
“I am focusing on ministry at this point and doing what I’ve been doing for the last 16 years and trying to spread a message to people that I know will help them,” he said. “I also understand that you don’t have to have a position to serve the public.”
Preston added that he is thankful and grateful for his time as a JP and for the people giving him an opportunity to serve.
“It’s been so good and it’s been eventful and adventurous,” he said. “I’ve always done what I felt was the right thing and I believe that’s what everybody that I served with on the court has done too. I believe everybody has made decisions based off what they felt was right.”
In closing, Preston added that he is very thankful for his wife for putting up with him while he ran for office.
“It takes a lot of guts to be the spouse of the person running for office,” he said. “I just want to say that I love her and I’m thankful for her.”
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or krigdon@ eldoradonews.com.