Q&A with City Council Ward 1, Position 1 candidates

Jack Gentry, Sr., is seeking his first term for Ward 1, Position 1, on the Eureka Springs City Council. Gentry is a lifelong Carroll County resident with 30 years of law enforcement experience. In addition to his law enforcement credentials, Gentry also has an extensive business background, having worked in management at Busch Gardens theme park and a large movie theater chain. His business experience has taught him management and administrative skills, and how to get the most bang for the buck.

Gentry is the son of the late Rex and Helen Gentry. He lives in Eureka Springs with his wife, Penny, and has seven children and eight grandchildren. Values deeply instilled in him since boyhood include hard work, honesty, community service and love of God and family.

QUESTIONS: (100 WORD LIMIT PER ANSWER.)

1. What are your reasons for running?

The city needs strong-minded individuals on its city council to follow through with what the citizens actually want.

2. What are your priorities and goals once you are in office, if you are elected?

I want to finish some of the many projects started over the last two years and quit tabling them.

3. Do you have any personal ties, such as children and/or relatives or close friends who work for the city, or have you worked there yourself?

No children or relatives. However, I do consider them all my friends.

4. How do you feel about public participation at City Council meetings? Should the public be allowed to ask questions or give a response during each topic's discussion or be confined only to the public comment portion at the start of a meeting?

I worked in law enforcement and dealt with the public in council meetings many times. The format that seemed best to me was listing the topics ahead of time, with each person allowed two or three minutes to speak. This was monitored closely, and the rules read aloud ahead of time, and if you broke the rules twice, you weren't allowed to speak at any more meetings. It was well handled and allowed citizens to participate in city projects. Information is the best policy in anything.

5. What is the most admirable thing about the City Council to you?

We have officials who are trying to do their duties in the best interest of the majority of citizens in the city, but we also have some of what I call "Seventies politics" going on, and it needs to stop. You don't make childish threats against people's lives and well-being. It's unprofessional.

6. What is the least admirable, and something you believe should change?

See above. I'd like to bring professionalism back into politics locally. We can't expect that on a state or federal level if we can't or aren't willing to do it locally.

7. What is your position on the deer hunt situation?

I am all for the deer hunt. My other option was that everybody in town against the hunt put funds into an insurance policy covering those who have a deer-related accidents. One fender bender with a deer can set you back over $1,000 in repairs, and that's if you have the $1,000. Check local body shops and find out how many deer-related repairs they make regularly and the overall cost. I love animals. I was an avid hunter as a kid. But animals are smart. If you don't hunt them in a particular area, they go back there every season.

What is your position on the taxi vs. limo debate?

I'm all for the limos and I'll tell you why. If we're reduced to one taxi service, a lot of people are going to get left without a ride. The two-hour waiting period is for limos ridiculous. Visitors won't know the rules and regs and will be stranded. We chased the buses out of town and now we're chasing the limos out? Everybody in this country should be able to be an entrepreneur if they want. One person shouldn't be allowed to control transportation in this way in Eureka Springs.

8. How do you think the City Council should deal with the upkeep and/or replacement of aging infrastructure -- sewer system, sidewalks, etc.? How should the City pay for the above?

There are so many grants out there. The cost is always going to be there, but if you have someone writing grants and actively seeking the funding, the money is also out there. I didn't appreciate a sewer plant built several years back for double what it supposed to have cost. That stuff needs to stop. If I mow your yard and say it's going to cost you $40, it should cost you in the neighborhood of $40, not double.

Michelle (Mickey) Schneider is seeking her second elected term for Ward 1, Position 1, on the Eureka Springs City Council. Schneider was originally appointed to the council. She also served on the planning commission and is past president of the local Democratic Women's Club.

Originally from Naperville, Ill., Schneider, 62, has lived in Eureka Springs for 38 years. She and spouse Steve Schneider raised their children here. Schneider is the general manager of apparel stores.

1. What are your reasons for running?

I moved here March 1, 1974, to have a clean, safe environment to raise my two children in. We now have 13 grandkids, one greatgrand and of course "our" 6 kids, so it obviously worked out well! Now that they are all leading their own lives and I don't have to work three jobs anymore, I want to "give back" to Eureka, so for the last eight years or so, I've been trying to do just that; Election Commission (20 years), Democratic Women (15 years) , Planning Commission (second time on), Council appointee (1 1/2 years), & assistant for the Veterans' Parade (three of four years). And mostly, because I'm a firm believer in Voters Rights & the American Way. Put your time where your mouth is.

2. What are your priorities and goals once you are in office, if you are elected?

My priorities are to get our City Council back on track, not only actually getting things done, but getting done what the community wants done, in a TIMELY fashion. I don't believe in the "good buddy" system of politics. What the MAJORITY of citizens want/need, is what I go by. I have several times voted for/against something that was opposite my own personal feelings, because the majority of people wanted/needed it that way. I weigh everything and a lot of the decisions have been very hard to make. I always push for COMPROMISE, especially at those times. We used to be awesome at compromise in the "good ol' days" of the "hippy" years. I wonder where that word's gone???

3. Do you have any personal ties, such as children and/or relatives or close friends who work for the City, or have you worked there yourself?

I have no personal ties with the City, but after living here for over 38 years, I'm friends with many of the employees.I'm a firm believer in the Police, Fire and EMT departments & would NEVER try to micromanage them. And, because of "City politics" being what they are, I've lost a few friends in the last couple of years, too. They tend to not appreciate my "plain" speaking method and would rather I "look the other way" when they're doing something against our laws, or twisting the truth a bit to help themselves or their friends.

4. How do you feel about public participation at City Council meetings? Should the public be allowed to ask questions or give a response during each topic's discussion or be confined only to the public comment portion at the start of a meeting?

I strongly feel the community needs to participate MORE in City proceedings, but I also feel that they are purposely being deterred from speaking out; in the past, when there was a highly contencious issue, the Council would automatically meet upstairs in the court room so there'd be room for everyone. Keep 'em in the hallway, out of our hair and sight, is the general consensus lately. I also liked the way we allowed the people to sign up for an issue and they got to speak after the council had discussed it, but before the vote. I realize meetings last longer, but if you're actually doing the City's business, you won't have a lengthy backlog to deal with.

5. What is the most admirable thing about the City Council to you? What is the least admirable, and something you believe should change?

What I find admirable is the Mayor and Aldermen Berry & DeVito hanging in there against all odds, fighting for the people tooth and nail. Regardless of what slimy actions the others take, the three of them keep fighting for what's right and proper, NOT for their buddies' desires. The least admirable thing about this Council is the underhanded, sneaky, slimy way "they" go about subverting the will of the people & our laws. Trying to micromanage EVERYTHING, take over EVERYTHING and have total control of EVERYTHING. They took an oath to SERVE the PEOPLE, et al. What happened???

6. Where do you stand on the deer hunt?

People pretty much know I'm a firm believer in the deer hunt; I helped bring it to a vote of the People, I sat on the Deer Committee, I pointed out a lot of the safety features we ended up with & have screamed the loudest at this council's trashing and lies about the hunt. Since the two council women have always been against the hunt, does it surprise anyone the way they underhandedly negated the people's vote the sneaky way they did? Even after it was pointed out twice that what they were doing was canceling the people's vote??? COMPROMISE comes to mind again...

7. What is your position on the taxi vs. limo debate?

The "taxi-limo" situation is a sticky one. I personally believe we only need one taxi service, as the town couldn't support two or more. BUT, I also believe that during weekends & events; high peak times, that if someone wants to rent a limo for a $5 ride to or from one place to another, they should have that option available to them. One taxi service cannot handle it all. To try to make limos a two hour or more deal, with oodles of money to be charged, is ridiculous. COMPROMISE again comes to mind. Maybe limit limos to those high peak times only (but allowing for weddings, etc.).

8. How do you think the City Council should deal with the upkeep and/or replacement of aging infrastructure -- sewer system, sidewalks, etc.? How should the City pay for the above?

When I was on Council, we worked on the sidewalk issue. I was overruled in regards to the City being responsible for at least part of the sidewalk replacement expenses. I feel that the City gains its tax dollars from those sidewalks, so they should help repair/replace them as needed, NOT just the property owners. Properly managed, the City should be able to cover the upkeep. Plan ahead and go one step at a time; it won't all get done at once. And the people need to understand that & help where able & to realize that part of their living here is to help "pay" for these services.

Karen Lindblad, 66, has been a co-owner of Gazebo Books for 36 years. Originally from Joliet, Ill, she has lived in Eureka Springs since 1976. Lindblad has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Southern Illinois University. She has worked with several organizations including the Good Shepherd Humane Society.

1. Why are you running?

I am running for office because this is one of the ways that I believe I can best serve my community. I understand Eureka as both a 36-year residential homeowner and as a businessperson. As a currently sitting councilperson, this perspective, along with a willingness to do the homework, helps me to make informed decisions for our community. If elected, I will continue to do my best for our entire community.

2. What are your priorities and goals once you are in office, if you are elected?

My goal is to make Eureka the best she can be for all of us. As a businessperson, I know that it takes a combination of collective efforts for us all to succeed. My goal is to make sure that we spend our dollars wisely. One way would be to update our computer systems so that our city's financial information comes to the citizens and the council in a more timely, as well as comprehensible manner. For a town of letle.

3. Do you have any personal ties, such as children and/or relatives or close friends who work for the City, or have you worked there

yourself?

No, to nepotism. Yes, I received a salary when I was on Council before.

4. How do you feel about public participation at City Council meetings? Should the public be allowed to ask questions or give a response during each topic's discussion or be confined only to the public comment portion at the start of a meeting?

Public comments are traditionally placed at the beginning of Council meeting in order to allow folks their time without tying up their whole evening. If citizens stay for a particular topic, then I feel that they should be able to comment if they are affected by or have pertinent information directly dealing with the agenda item. For example, there are times during a particular discussion when a citizen has more information that can help the Council understand the issue more clearly and as a small town, we must make the time to listen to all sides before rendering a decision.

5. What is the most admirable thing about the City Council to you? What is the least admirable, and something you believe should change?

What I like about Council is: When we act with no motive or personal gain for ourselves, when we act as Statesmen and not Politicians with a hidden agenda and when Council acts for the health, safety and welfare of all citizens and visitors.

6. What is your position on the deer hunt situation?

My position with the deer hunt is for the public to be as fully informed as possible with all the details of the proposed hunt. When this issue was placed in front of the Voters by a prior Council, it was done with no real plan, review or oversight as to all the details. It is unfortunate that the previously sitting Council+Mayor that created that Ordinance are not the ones that are presently dealing with the aftermath of a poorly worded Ballot issue that has created havoc in our community.

7. What is your position on the taxi vs. limo debate?

The more I learn about this topic the more I realize there is more to know. Since this topic is currently on the Council table, I will refrain from making any comments at this time.

8. How do you think the City Council should deal with the upkeep and/or replacement of aging infrastructure -- sewer system, sidewalks, etc.? How should the City pay for the above?

The infrastructure of Eureka is a major concern to all of us. In a perfect world, we would have an engineering department that would work with the other city departments to keep us safe and healthy. Since we don't have this, we depend on our Mayor and department heads to outline our needs and present solutions for discussions in a timely manner. For example, there are still 2 unused parking spaces in front of the Aud because of bad infrastructure under the parking lot. This has been a problem for over 3 years and yet, no solutions are forthcoming.