Carr challenges Robinson for seat

BENTONVILLE — Political newcomer Robert Carr Jr. is challenging incumbent Tim Robinson for the Ward 1, Position 1 City Council seat.

Robinson, 34, currently serves in Ward 2, but new ward boundaries will take effect Jan. 1. His address will then be in Ward 1.

Ward 1 will encompass the city’s northwest, everything east of North Walton Boulevard and north of East Central Avenue.

Infrastructure, especially improving transportation options to improve and stay ahead of traffic, is a priority for Robinson, if re-elected, he said.

The city’s projected population for 2025 is 72,000, he said. It’s around 49,000 now.

“Traffic will only get worse unless we plan and develop actions to stay ahead of it,” Robinson said.

Attempts to reach Carr by email and phone this week were unsuccessful.

Carr, 62, is a native of Catoosa, Okla., and has lived in Bentonville since 1974. He works for his family business, Carr Plumbing Kitchens and Baths.

“I would like to make a little bit of a difference,” he said in August after filing for candidacy. “I would just like to keep a lot of what we have, but at the same time, I would like to keep progressing.”

Robinson said the dam at Lake Bella Vista should be removed if the city keeps control of the lake and its surrounding land. The city should give the lake back to Cooper Communities if it and Bella Vista are adamant the dam be repaired and lake remain, he added.

“This would free up our tax dollars and resources to continue improving our own parks and make Lake Bentonville and the Community Center better than they are today,” Robinson said.

Robinson served on the task force that looked at three different options as potential solutions for the failed dam.

He also serves on the animal shelter task force. Robinson said he’s in support of the city having its own shelter. The roughly $130,000 a year the city spends to contract with Centerton to use its shelter could be increased and stay in Bentonville to take better care of the animals, he said.

Council members are paid $711 a month. The nonpartisan election will be held Nov. 6. Early voting starts Monday.

Carr