Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Manning Sees No Issues In Reelection Bid For County Judge

Clark County Judge Floyd "Buddy" Manning, said he's heard of no issues for the current political season with any bearing on his race.

Manning is being challenged by former Judge Grady Runyan.

In talking about the race, Manning said he has an open door policy whereby anyone can come by and visit if they have a problem.

He said the county now has a planned road program and the ability and willingness to work with industries and for industrial development.

One of Manning's goals, since taking office Jan. 1, 1999, has been to make Clark County a better place to live.

To do this, he visits different communities and talks to the people about their needs and interests.

When asked about the sales tax issue Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith has proposed Manning said the people spoke when they voted it in.

At the time, he said, the county was in dire need of the money, and the county officials have been good stewards of these funds. The money has been used wisely, he added.

"What we don't need now, we invest," he said. "We have a certain period of time when we can do paving because of the weather, and we want to be sure we have the money when we need it."

The county isn't spending the money just because it's there, Manning said.

The cities in Clark County, he continued, need to look at the issue. They say they're subsidizing the county, but people in the county subsidize the cities where they have to shop.

"Each city has a sales tax,"Manning said, "and I feel turnabout is fair play."

No meeting has been set up between any city body and the Clark County Quorum Court, he said. "I don't know what they're planning. When they want to talk to the court, I'm sure the court will listen.

"I don't know what action the court can take. If it gets on the ballot, I think it will be done by petition."

Manning said the county's roads are in good shape, with plans in place to pave several more this year.

He said the county got $250,000 to pave Smithton Road last year from the state, adding this is a good access road for Gurdon.

The county road crews, he said, will be doing more chip and seal jobs, with weather being the determining factor as to how much road work gets done.

Manning's idea for paving county roads is to get people out of the dust and mud who live in rural areas.

"We've got 750-800 miles of county roads," he said, "and about half of them are paved. I'd like to get as many as I can out of the dust and mud."

Manning said maintenance is a big job on these roads, but the county is gradually gaining and paving more roads.

However, all of the county's roads can't be paved because timber is one of the main industries.

Last year, though, the county hauled 65,000 yards of gravel and has seven graders running all the time.

Manning was raised in Clark County in the Richwood area. He grew up on a farm and attended Arkadelphia schools.

For 20 yeas he was a timber contractor, and has been a fireman since 1960.

Being a fireman, he said, helped teach him to make quick decisions and stand by them.

He's also taken several leadership courses.

Manning and his wife, Beverly, have been married 40 years, and have two daughters, Karen Arnold and Jill Batson. They have one grandchild, Clint.

His goals for the future are to keep doing what he's been doing, working for and with the people, while making sure all parts of the county are treated equally, he said.

Manning has a toll-free phone number for those needing to contact him. It is 1-877-476-5847.