Candidates for Carroll-Boone Water District board speak out

The board consists of three directors from each county. Terms are for six years, staggered, and an election is held every two years. The positions are nonpartisan.

In this election, the Boone County seat is currently held by dentist Frank A. Brooks of Harrison, who is filling out the term of Royce Barrett and is rerunning for that seat. His challenger is Teresa Matthews, also of Harrison.

The Carroll County seat is currently held by Gene Chafin of Berryville. His challenger is Lisa Price-Backs, also of Berryville.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

We asked the Carroll County candidates seven questions. Each was given the same set of questions, with instructions to restrict their answers to up to 100 words each, with the provision that the answers would be cut off at 100 words. Answers have not been edited except for minor grammar and spelling as needed. Each candidate is presented alphabetically, with a short profile and then their answers.

Gene Chafin is 70 years old and has resided in Berryville all his life. He graduated from Berryville High School and has a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of Central Arkansas.

He is a farmer by profession and has not served in any other political office except the Carroll-Boone Water Board. He is married to Leone and has two children. He served as the Berryville Chamber of Commerce president for two terms, has been a member of the Berryville Fire Department for 45 years and its chief for 35 years.

Questions & Answers:

1. What are your reasons for running for the board?

I enjoy serving on Carroll-Boone board because I believe strongly in the welfare of the communities it serves.

2. What qualifies you to sit on the board?

Past experience. I have served on the Carroll-Boone water board since 1999.

3. What are your priorities and goals with respect to your position on the board, if you are elected?

To provide the communities with the highest quality of water at a reasonable price.

4. Do you have any personal ties to the water district, such as relatives or close friends who work for the water district or have you worked or volunteered there yourself?

No.

5. Regardless of current state law, what is your personal position on fluoridating the drinking water supply?

To keep an open mind until a final decision has been handed down on fluoridation.

6. What do you feel is the most important issue facing the water district and its customers over the next 10 years, and how do you think it should be approached?

Planning another water line parallel with the existing water line to Harrison, as our largest users are at the end of the line.

7. Is there anything else you would like to add?

(No response).

Lisa Price-Backs is 56 years old and has lived in Carroll County for 30 years. She grew up on the Kings River at Trigger Gap before moving to South Australia. She has also resided in Boone and Newton counties. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and is an L.P.N., licensed radiology technologist and was a former EMT, pharmacy technician, surgical technician and certified in phlebotomy.

She has never served in a political office. She is married and has four grown children. Her family has a cow-calf beef operation in the northwest section of the county. She is a cofounder of Clean Water Association of Carroll County and is a member of Arkansas Animal Producers Association, the Kings River Watershed Partnership and Secure Arkansas.

Questions & Answers:

1. What are your reasons for running for the board?

Water is something that we all share as it is a precious resource and it is of great importance for the public to have a representative that voices the concern of the people. I will make myself accessible via phone, e-mail or in person. Education is a vital role in allowing the consumers of our water district to be better informed, I would encourage all to attend the quarterly meetings of the CBWD as the meetings are open to the public, therefore greater transparency is achieved. I was inspired to run for director when the Eureka Springs city council in June, passed and

2. What qualifies you to sit on the board?

For many years now I have volunteered cleaning our County's streams and rivers. I am a current member of the Kings River Watershed Partnership, the Clean Water Association of Carroll County, and I have worked with the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality with matters concerning water and water quality here in Carroll County . I have interest in volunteering with the newly formed Beaver Watershed Alliance to help keep the area clean and safe from litter and debris not only for good water quality management but for aquatic life and tourism too. I have future interest in becoming a Certified

3. What are your priorities and goals with respect to your position on the board, if you are elected?

My first and foremost priority is for Carroll Boone to have a web-page accessible to the public, so that they're informed about what is going on with our water supply. As a board member the quarterly meetings help keep the flow of operations continuing regarding expenditures and update by engineers on enhancing and upgrading the water system.

4. Do you have any personal ties to the water district, such as relatives or close friends who work for the water district or have you worked or volunteered there yourself?

No.

5. Regardless of current state law, what is your personal position on fluoridating the drinking water supply?

I am opposed to the use of fluoride in our water supply as this particular type of fluoride is an industrial waste by-product: the phosphate fertilizer and aluminum industry,hydrofluoric silic acid which is very corrosive and hazardous if not handled properly.The American vendors supplying the fluoride should give country of origin labeling and meet the ANSI/NSF Standard 60 product safety disclosure of harmful additive toxins and a chemical analysis which is noted in the Arkansas Department of Health Rules and Regulations of public water systems, revised 2010. I am not opposed to topically applying a pharmaceutical grade of fluoride to teeth for oral care. I have

6. What do you feel is the most important issue facing the water district and its customers over the next 10 years, and how do you think it should be approached?

As Carroll County becomes more populated, there will be a more greater demand put on our water supply from the Beaver Lake Reservoir...the Ozark aquifer which is our source of groundwater is estimated to run out within 20 years,with this anticipation of population growth, especially with demand from our neighbors to the north and the I-540 corridor to the west it is vital to prepare for possible conservation measures. Drought is a major hindrance. Because a greater need is arising, rural water is back on the table in our local quorom court. The vehicle or mechanism of how it is brought to the public is of utmost concern. I

7. Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would ask the Carroll Boone Water District consumer to stay informed and by voting on November 6 th to exercise choice in whom will carry the district forward. It would be an honor to serve a 6 year term as a public servant to the people of the Carroll Boone Water District.