A
Community Leadership, Accountability & Vision Forum
Thursday,
October 15, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Dumas Community Center
18 Belmont Drive | Dumas, Arkansas
THE CENTRAL QUESTION
ARE
WE BETTER FOUR YEARS LATER?
Not
simply:
Who
wants the position?
But:
Who
has demonstrated the vision, strategy, leadership and ability to move Dumas and
Desha County forward?
This
community forum creates an opportunity for citizens, current officeholders and
candidates to have a serious public conversation about where we are, where we
are going and what leadership will be required to get there.
THE PREMISE
Elections
should be about more than personalities, promises, politics and talk.
They
should also be about:
VISION.
STRATEGY. PERFORMANCE. ACCOUNTABILITY. RESULTS.
Some
candidates are asking voters for their first opportunity to lead.
Others
have already served one, two or more terms.
That
creates two different—but equally important—questions:
For
challengers:
What will you do?
For
incumbents:
What have you done—and what will you do next?
The
purpose of this forum is not to tell citizens how to vote.
The
purpose is to give citizens the information they need to ask better questions,
examine records, compare plans and make their own decisions.
THE
COMMUNITY SCORECARD
For
officials who have already served, citizens should have an opportunity to
examine the public record.
What
was promised?
What
was accomplished?
What
remains unfinished?
What
measurable progress occurred during the term?
What
happened with population, jobs, economic development, neighborhoods,
infrastructure, public safety, education, youth opportunity and quality of
life?
And
the fundamental question:
ARE WE BETTER FOUR
YEARS LATER?
If
yes:
How?
Show us the results.
If
not:
Why
not? What prevented progress, and what would be different during another term?
THE
CHALLENGER QUESTION
Being
new is not itself a qualification.
Every
challenger should also be prepared to answer:
Why
you?
What
have you led?
What
have you accomplished?
What
is your vision?
What
is your plan?
What
would you do during your first 100 days?
How
will you pay for your proposals?
How
will citizens measure whether you succeeded?
THE
DUMAS/DESHA COMMUNITY SURVEY
Before
the forum, residents will be invited to participate in a public community
survey.
QUESTION 1
Are
Dumas and Desha County better positioned today than they were four years ago?
□
Yes
□ No
□ Somewhat
□ Unsure
QUESTION 2
What
are the three greatest needs facing our community?
□
Jobs and economic development
□ Poverty reduction and wealth creation
□ Education and workforce development
□ Youth opportunities
□ Public safety
□ Housing and neighborhoods
□ Streets and infrastructure
□ Healthcare
□ Senior services
□ Small-business development
□ Government transparency/accountability
□ Population loss
□ Arts, culture and recreation
□ Other: ____________
QUESTION 3
When
considering an incumbent, what should matter most?
□
Record of accomplishments
□ Progress on previous promises
□ Accessibility to citizens
□ Fiscal responsibility
□ Ability to attract investment
□ Vision for the next four years
□ Ability to work with others
□ Other: ____________
QUESTION 4
When
considering a new candidate, what should matter most?
□
Leadership experience
□ Proven accomplishments outside elected office
□ Specific plan for the community
□ Knowledge of government
□ Ability to build partnerships
□ New ideas
□ Community involvement
□ Other: ____________
QUESTION 5
What
ONE question would you most like every candidate to answer on October 15?
THE
OCTOBER 15 FORUM
Every
participating candidate receives an opportunity to:
SHOW
UP. SPEAK. ANSWER. LISTEN.
Candidates
should be invited to address the same major community priorities so citizens
can compare answers fairly.
Suggested
forum questions:
1.
Where should Dumas/Desha be four years from now?
2.
What are the three most important things you will accomplish during your term?
3.
What specific economic-development strategy will you pursue?
4.
How will your leadership create opportunities for young people and families?
5.
What can local government realistically do to reduce poverty and expand wealth
creation?
6.
What will you do differently from the current approach?
7.
What should citizens use to measure your performance?
8.
What will you accomplish during your first 100 days?
For
incumbents, one additional question:
What
measurable accomplishments from your present term demonstrate why voters should
consider returning you to office?
WHO
SHOULD ATTEND?
EVERY
CITIZEN WHO CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DUMAS AND DESHA COUNTY.
Young
people.
Parents.
Seniors.
Business
owners.
Educators.
Faith
leaders.
Farmers.
Entrepreneurs.
Neighborhood
leaders.
Nonprofit
organizations.
Current
elected officials.
Candidates.
And
citizens who have never attended a political or government meeting before.
You
don't have to make a speech.
You
don't have to support a candidate.
You
don't have to belong to a political party.
You
simply need to care about what happens next.
WHAT
CAN EVERY CITIZEN DO?
ATTEND.
And
if you cannot attend:
SEND
A QUESTION.
Ask
about jobs.
Ask
about spending.
Ask
about streets.
Ask
about young people.
Ask
about economic development.
Ask
about promises.
Ask
about results.
Ask
about the future.
WHAT
CAN EVERY CANDIDATE DO?
Three
things:
SHOW UP.
SPEAK.
DEBATE THE ISSUES.
Every
candidate should have the opportunity to present a vision and answer questions
before the citizens they seek to represent.
THE
MESSAGE
This
is bigger than an election.
It
is about determining what kind of community we intend to become.
Politics
can identify problems.
Talk
can describe problems.
Leadership
must solve problems.
STRATEGY AND VISION
MUST BECOME PERFORMANCE.
WHAT DOES DUMAS/DESHA
NEED?
WHO WILL LEAD?
ARE WE BETTER FOUR
YEARS LATER?
October
15, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Dumas Community Center
18 Belmont Drive | Dumas, Arkansas
The
community asks the questions.
The candidates present their records and plans.
The people make the decision.
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