The chorus of calls for State Rep. Austin McCollum, R-Bentonville, to drop out of both the Arkansas House and his unopposed candidacy for county judge of Benton County grew louder Monday. It is time for him to listen and step aside.
This editorial board, writing from Bentonville, believes the current conflict between McCollum’s two roles is untenable. He is currently balancing a legislative career in Little Rock with a campaign to run the county’s administrative branch from Rogers. You simply cannot do both jobs effectively. The county judge’s role involves more than just settling disputes; it requires the authority to oversee the county’s $500 million general obligation bond program and serve as the ombudsman cutting through red tape between departments.
When an elected official is running for a higher office, their focus inevitably shifts. You see it every session in NWA when legislators have their eyes on bigger prizePotential. Imagine sitting in the state Capitol, debating funding for the newest highway project while trying to manage the day-to-day payroll of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office or the Decatur Complex. It’s messy.
There is a specific burn to the voters here. We watch our local officials navigate the bureaucracy daily. Whether it is about zoning in Springdale or road funding in Bella Vista, residents expect their county judge to be present and singular in focus. McCollum’s position as the “ombudsman”—the one person bridging the gap between the county judge and the County Quorum Court—is compromised if he is spending his evenings and weekends campaigning for the very job he is currently holding.
The trust gap is widening. While McCollum is currently unopposed in the November election for county judge, that doesn’t absolve him of the responsibility to the voters in House District 92. Wright the coal you plan to dig up.
Why this breaks down
Benton County government requires a steady hand and 100% dedication. The $800 million budget alone is a beast to manage. When you are writing laws in Little Rock, you are looking at the county through a lens of policy needs for 75 counties. When you are county judge, you are looking at the specific potholes in Rogers or the water issues in Pea Ridge.
We aren’t asking him to take a break; we are asking for focus. There is a practical reality to public service. You can be a great legislator, or you can be a great county executive. Trying to be both usually results in a government that is delayed, confused, and unresponsive.
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Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
