This is a paid political announcement.
Clark County residents are invited to take part in a Clark County Community Town Hall hosted by Justice Michael L. Ankton, candidate for Clark County Judge, and Amber Bailey, candidate for Justice of the Peace District 2, on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Dawson Education Cooperative in Arkadelphia.
Centered around the message “You Have a Voice,” the town hall will provide residents an opportunity to meet the candidates, ask questions, share concerns and have an open conversation about the issues affecting Clark County.
“This campaign has never been about me standing in front of people and telling them what Clark County needs. It has been about listening to the people who live here every day,” Ankton said. “Whether the concern is county roads, public safety, economic opportunity, transparency or simply feeling like your community is being overlooked, we want people to come talk with us. Your voice matters.”
Ankton currently represents District 2 on the Clark County Quorum Court and is seeking the office of County Judge. A two-time graduate of Henderson State University, he earned both his bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in educational leadership from HSU. He is also an educator with the Arkadelphia Public School District, where he teaches social studies at Goza Middle School.
During his service on the Quorum Court, Ankton sponsored the ordinance that brought livestreaming to regular Quorum Court meetings as part of his effort to make county government more open and accessible to the public.
Bailey is seeking to succeed Ankton as the Justice of the Peace for District 2. She currently serves as Director of Alumni Services at Henderson State University, where she works to connect alumni with the university and the broader community.
“I believe the best way to serve people is to first listen to them,” Bailey said. “This town hall gives our neighbors an opportunity to sit down with us, share what is important to them and be part of the conversation about the future of our community. We want everyone to know that their voice has value and that local government should be accessible to the people it serves.”
Rather than a traditional campaign rally, Ankton and Bailey say the town hall is intended to be a community conversation, giving residents time to speak directly with the candidates about what they believe is working, what needs attention and what they want to see from their local government.
The Clark County Community Town Hall will be held Thursday, Sept. 3, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Dawson Education Cooperative, 711 Clinton Street in Arkadelphia. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.