Cortney McKee has announced her candidacy for Garland County justice of the peace, District 9.
"Voters deserve a choice," she said. "We cannot hold our officials accountable if they do not have an opponent."
McKee, a lifelong Arkansan, attended the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts in 2000 and 2001. She received her Associate Degree in Law and Social Science from Phillips Community College in Stuttgart, Arkansas. She received her bachelor's degree in Political Science at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. McKee is currently enrolled in the Master of Public Administration at UALR following her interest in intergovernmental relations and in community development.
McKee and her husband, Steve, traveled to Garland County several times each year after they were first married. They loved the natural beauty of the area and camping most of all. McKee and her family moved to Garland County just over four years ago. She has three stepsons and one daughter.
McKee said that her love of people and service lead her to a career in hospitality management. As a mom, a student, and business manager, she is responsible for budgeting. "We often make sacrifices in our personal lives to make ends meet. Our tax dollars should be spent with that same sense of responsibility. We need to make county government more transparent and accessible," McKee said. She was prompted to run when she noticed that many offices were unopposed in the 2016 election.
McKee said she believes in accountability with tax dollars, environmental justice, renewable energy for county buildings, worker's rights, public education and school resource officers.
"I believe in building schools and not prisons. It widely accepted that prison cells are determined by the reading level in the third grade. I would like to work with the county sheriff to fund a program that addresses the needs of families and children in order to reduce the crime rate in Garland County."
"This election is so important," Mrs. McKee says, "it is imperative that everyone exercise their right to vote."
Local on 10/21/2018