Welcome
Please bear with us as we are updating the website. It's still a work in progress. Please check back frequently.
Thank you for visiting my website and taking the time to learn about me and about the position I am seeking re-election for, Garland County Judge. When you think of a judge what comes to mind immediately is a person wearing a big black robe and presiding over court but that's not exactly what a County Judge does. In fact, as I read over the job description I began to think that a better title would be "County Manager" because the primary function of this position is to successfully manage county government and oversee the way our tax dollars are spent. In other words, the County Judge is the chief executive officer of the county who manages resources and operations. Below I've listed the job description from the Garland County Clerk's website.
I also want you to have a chance to get to know me and why I'm still the right person for the job of Garland County Judge. The number one thing I want you to know is this: even though I'm running for a second term, I am not a run-of-the-mill politician; I am a business person who cares about the welfare of the citizens of the county and how our tax dollars are put to work. I hope my record of work during this first term will give you the reason to vote for me for a second term. I continue to work hard for you and appreciate the opportunity to continue that work. Even though I am unopposed in the upcoming elections, I still need your support. The challenges facing this county will require all of us working together. Please visit this website often to receive factual information about Garland County issues and projects.
If you have questions or want to know where I stand on an issue I invite you to email me at rickdavis@hiredavisjudge.com. If you have questions related to county business, you may also email me at rdavis@garlandcounty.org. I'll try to answer your questions as quickly as possible. I'd also be honored to come and speak to your church, civic or business group and get to know some of my neighbors a little better. I think once you meet me, hear my ideas about fiscal responsibility and working cooperatively with the City of Hot Springs while maintaining autonomy for the County that you'll be ready to continue my employment as your Garland County Judge.
Unfortunately, even without an opponent, "applying" for the job of Garland County Judge still requires some money. While I will not be actively asking for campaign contributions, if you would like to contribute toward the $2,000 filing fee that I had to pay, my campaign will thankfully accept it and apply it accordingly. However, as times are tough these days, I'd much rather have your support and vote than a campaign contribution.
Any campaign donations can be made by sending a check to:
Rick Davis for Garland County Judge
PO Box 368
Pearcy, AR 71964
County Judge The chief executive officer for county government in Arkansas is the County Judge. As chief executive the judge authorized and approves the disbursement of all appropriated county funds, operates the system of county roads, administers ordinances enacted by the Quorum Court, has custody of county property, accepts grants from federal, state, public and private sources, hires county employees except those persons employed by other elected officials of the county, and presides over the Quorum Court without a vote, but with the power to veto. (A.C.A. § 14-14-1001 through 1103)
http://www.garlandcounty.org/file.php?id=115
All powers not vested in the County Judge, as the county’s chief executive officer shall continue to be exercised and administered by the County Court, over which the County Judge shall preside. The County Court, in fact, is the County Judge sitting in a judicial role. The County Court of each county has exclusive original jurisdiction in all matters relating to:
(1) County Taxes: Including real and personal ad valorem taxes collected by county government. The County Court’s authority in this area includes jurisdiction over the assessment of property, equalization of assessments on appeal, tax levies, tax collections, and the disbursement of tax proceeds.
(2) Paupers: The Court’s jurisdiction includes all county administrative actions affecting the conduct of human services programs serving indigent residents of the county where such offices are financed in total or in part by county funds.
(3) Jurisdiction in each other case that may be necessary to the internal improvement and local concerns of the respective counties including county financial activities and works of general public utility or advantage designed to promote intercommunication, trade and commerce, transportation of persons and property, or the development of natural resources, which are no otherwise transferred to the County Judges to be administered in an executive capacity.
(4) The County Court shall have all other jurisdiction now vested by law in the county court except with respect to those powers formerly vested in the county court under the provisions of Section 28 Article 7 of the Constitution which were transferred to the County Judge under the provisions of Section 3 of Amendment 55 to the Arkansas Constitution, (A.C.A. § 14-14-1105), and those powers removed by Amendment 67 as they pertain to the Bastardy and Juvenile Court.
In addition to the duties of the County Court, the County Judge is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day inter-governmental relations between the various state and federal agencies operating at the county level. The Judge must also apply for all federal and state assistance monies for which the county is eligible, and appoints the members to all administrative and advisory boards in the county, some of which have to be confirmed by the Quorum Court.
Rick Davis: Biography
I think it's safe to say that I have been blessed. All of my success I attribute to faith in God, a loving family, application of sound business and fiscal principles, ability to gather input from others, and a strong work ethic which includes working along-side others rather than just sitting in an office.
My family includes my wife, Denice, whom, I'm proud to say, has been by my side for 38 years. We have two sons who have expanded our family: Jarred and his wife Megan have two children, Emma and Scout; and Marc and his wife Sonya also have two children, Kaitlyn and Carson.
I have been in business in Garland County for over 33 years. I am the Chief Executive Officer of Daveco Construction, Inc., a successful underground utility construction business. There I oversee the allocation of all material, human and fiscal resources. I have managed all aspects of large projects including new utility, water and sewer system installations, construction of water and sewer plants, along with improvements and replacements in various towns and municipalities around Arkansas and surrounding states. I also have experience in highway and drainage projects as well as reclamation of contaminated land areas. My company holds a license in heavy highway, municipal utility, and airport construction. I have knowledge from work over 12 years in various types of aggregate materials used in the road and construction industry. Additionally I served as the Project Director for the Hot Springs Municipal Utilities for two years. In order to fulfill the duties of County Judge, I've closed my primary business, Daveco. County Judge is a full time job.
Organizational memberships include: the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), American Angus Association, Arkansas Angus Association, Arkansas-Oklahoma Angus Association, the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, and the Garland County Farm Bureau. In 2004, we were named the Garland County Farm Family of the Year. I am a past board member of the Garland County Conservation District.
Guiding principles:
Committed to doing the right thing even if
not popular.
· Committed to bringing commonsense business
principles and fiscal responsibility to county
government
· Committed to equal representation for everyone
in the county
· Committed to ongoing maintenance program
for all county infrastructure
· Committed to open communication between
residents and the county judge’s office
· Committed to working productively with other
government agencies
· Committed to working with business and county
agencies to create industrial growth and jobs
· Committed to promoting cooperation and
communication among all county departments
· Committed to a commonsense, research-
driven, fiscally responsible larger
county detention center.
· Committed to helping and working with county
emergency services and law enforcement
· Committed to working on the problems created
by the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ-5- mile radius)