Editor’s note: This is the third part of a three-part series.
Early voting is underway. Local voters can now review the answers to questions posed to the candidates for Jefferson County judge by The Pine Bluff Commercial. The incumbent, Gerald Robinson, declined to participate.
The following questions were provided to the candidates. In this story, candidates answer questions 7, 8 and 9. Questions 1 through 6 were published earlier in the week.
Service Delivery & Operations
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
7. The lack of funding approvals has disrupted county operations, including IT systems and vendor payments. What measures would you take to safeguard the continuity of essential services during budgeting disagreements?
8. How will you prioritize public safety, infrastructure (like road maintenance) and other essential services in your first 100 days in office?
Accountability
9. What specific transparency mechanisms (e.g., public dashboards, regular audits, reporting) will you implement to ensure citizens can follow county finances and decision-making processes?
MICHAEL TURLEY
7. Again, these disruptions are due to personalities interfering with processes. Elected officials who think they’re “in charge” have committed a fundamental error in understanding their role as public servants. In the event that future personalities decide to interfere with processes, I will ensure that processes continue to serve our county’s VOICES while working to resolve such personal interferences; if necessary, I will request that the VOICES determine the fitness of the elected personality who has chosen to no longer serve them. Let me be crystal clear about this topic — I’m not here to make friends with anyone, nor am I here to be liked by anyone. My popularity nor personality matter! The only thing that matters is our collective service to our county’s VOICES. We must be win-win (or no deal) in that passionate pursuit of service; anything and everything else detracts from our ability to collectively serve.
8. The very first thing I will do after being elected is to look at how those services are currently implemented. I am a HUGE fan of county services, and I am utterly against “Big C Capitalism” of contractors who I know bid to promise cheaper services but line their own pockets while barely delivering on such services. When you underpay and overwork people, you get underpaid and overworked results. Some of these services are “quick victories” such as repairing and painting the COUNTY COURTHOUSE PARKING LOT, but they are being withheld while personalities whine and complain about whose fault it is for failing to serve our county’s VOICES.
Within the first 100 days, I’m confident that many of these services will be delivered because I will use the two months between the election and taking office to realign such services with appropriate focus, discipline, and a sense of urgency.
9. My #1 transparency mechanism is our county’s website. Currently, it lacks basic notifications while highlighting disparaging topics that are 3+ months old! Our website must be 21st-century modern with one-click access to all VOICES concerns: finances, contracts (if any), work orders, calendar events, township triumphs, county crowns (best of), decision-making (news outlets “live” similar to MSNBC’s congressional cameras), etc. Since I have nothing to hide, the other county servants will have nothing to hide from our VOICES! By the way, you limited your question to “ensure citizens” — to me, anyone who pays taxes is one of the VOICES because every penny of taxes is an investment in the county! So I treat all residents (whether US citizens or those on the road to citizenship) as well as visitors as part of the VOICES to whom I’m listening! For example, if a resident of Drew County drives to spend money at Saracen Casino, that person has invested in the county and, therefore, is one of the VOICES. When people from the Delta region drive through our great county to shop in Little Rock or other counties, when they have the choice to shop in Jefferson County, they are telling us where they prefer to use their VOICES. Our current federal administration has a binary view of our VOICES — to him, we’re either citizens OR criminals (with nothing in between), and that hurts our great nation. When we reeducate voters to understand that they “vote” every single time they pay a penny in taxes, then we’ll get elected officials to start realizing how powerful those VOICES are.
NATE TODD
7. To ensure continuity of services, I will rely on state law provisions that allow counties to operate under prior-year budgets while disputes are resolved, safeguard IT and vendor payments and prioritize payroll and public safety.
8. In my first 180 days, my focus will be quickly establishing rapport and building trust with the Quorum Court, other elected county officials and the constituents will be the foundation of that focus. Clear communication is critical so that citizens can easily understand how their county is run. Public safety, road maintenance and stabilizing county operations are my priorities.
9. Accountability starts with transparency and clear, accessible information for the public. As county judge, I will work with the Quorum Court and other elected officials to ensure citizens can easily see how county government is performing and how taxpayer dollars are being used.
Beyond finances, accountability means measuring how well county services are actually working. That includes tracking operational efficiency, service quality, employee readiness and long-term planning. I support using practical performance measures to evaluate whether county departments are meeting their responsibilities and improving over time.
My goal is a county government that is open, measurable and accountable — where residents can follow decisions, understand outcomes and trust that their county is being managed responsibly.
EFREM NEELY
7. Essential services must remain operational regardless of budget negotiations. I will ensure continuity planning for payroll, IT systems, vendor payments and public safety operations. County government should always be prepared to maintain core functions while budget discussions continue.
8. My first 100 days will focus on stabilizing operations, restoring trust, and setting clear priorities. That includes ensuring public safety agencies are adequately funded, establishing a transparent road maintenance plan, collaboration with municipalities and implementing reporting systems so residents can track progress. The goal is reliable service delivery from day one.
9. I will ensure regular budget updates and clear reporting on major expenditures and projects. Residents deserve accessible, understandable information about how public funds are used. Transparency strengthens accountability and supports better decision-making.
ERIC WALDEN
7. I can tell you, this situation is unique and only occurs because of conflict between a few. There is a hard task that lies ahead in going through all the unpaid invoices and making sure all vendors who are owed money are taken care of. It’s something that has to be done. These issues stemming from lack of trust and ongoing conflict have created a mess, and now there are business owners that don’t trust the county. As county judge, the measures I would take to safeguard the continuity of essential services or any service is to not allow a lack of emotional intelligence or any disagreement or conflict with another elected official keep me from handling county business in a respectful and timely manner. I understand that disagreements and conflict may come and go, however, it should not get to the point where business is halted. I am committed to doing the hard work and making sure all vendors get paid on time no matter what is going on.
8. It starts with a personnel audit, equipment audit and financial audit. I need to make sure that we have the adequate manpower needed to run the road department effectively and efficiently. I have been to several areas across the county and heard the complaints of residents, business owners, agricultural partners and others about how bad county roads have been the last five years. We also need an equipment audit to see what equipment is on hand that can be used and then what equipment we need to purchase to do the necessary work. I have been in quorum court meetings and heard about how equipment has been auctioned off including equipment still under lease without the knowledge of the quorum court. Then, we need the financial audit to see what contracts have been entered into without the Quorum Court or the clerk’s office knowledge. I cannot move forward without those 3 things first. I also look to aim for small wins. What I mean by that is working with our road department, and even local businesses as needed to help get repairs and maintenance done that you can see.
Another idea I shared is the creation of the Jefferson County Road Committee. The purpose of the Jefferson County Road Committee is to help bring structure, oversight and community voice into the decision-making process. The goal is to balance expertise, accountability and representation while also providing the best level of care and attention to Jefferson County’s infrastructure. This type of committee would blend technical expertise with community accountability, while ensuring that Jefferson County’s diverse needs (agriculture, business, schools, rural and urban citizens) are all represented.
As far as public safety and other services are concerned, it will be my priority to meet with the sheriff about budget needs and how we can improve overall safety in our county and in our county facilities. So in my first 100 days, the focus will be on stabilizing core services, listening to department leaders and residents and putting transparent systems in place that allow us to prioritize based on safety, need and fiscal responsibility. Public safety and roads will remain top priorities, but we will also assess staffing, facilities, emergency readiness and financial controls to ensure the county is operating efficiently and within the law.
9. One of the mechanisms includes posting agendas and information online regularly so residents can see what business will be addressed. In addition to the Jefferson County Road Committee, I also want to create a dashboard or reporting system where residents can submit requests and even pictures for roads that need to be addressed. The plan for the Jefferson County Road Committee is for there to be a report done quarterly to Quorum Court and the public. Budgets will also be posted online and in the meeting packets. That way when the Quorum Court are reviewing the information, they aren’t just seeing a one-page sheet with numbers, they can also see the various budgets and know that the numbers match up with what the elected official presented and that there are no hidden cuts or cuts made without their knowledge.
Another idea would be to provide a one-page budget summary explaining what changed from the previous year, why the changes were made, and how services are impacted. Audit findings will be posted and discussed in Quorum Court as requested. I would also host a State of the County Address where I can brief the public on topics like the county’s financial state, road work, major projects and even challenges. As I have been very active across Jefferson County, I would also visit the other communities as well to visit with residents, hear their concerns and work with them.