CENTERTON CITY ATTORNEY
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Candidate's name: Shelley Ball Education background: Licensed to practice law for more than 12 years; worked as an associate at the Slinkard Law Firm and represented Centerton. For more than six years, he worked in the field of economic development in real estate with Wal-Mart, working with lawyers and government officials on public meetings and other matters.
Candidate's name: Brian D. Rabal Education background: Practiced law for more than three years, 2 1 / 2 years as sole practitioner. Most of his practice consists of general civil litigation, family and criminal law, estate planning and personal injury. He previously was a judicial law clerk for the Circuit Court in Eaton County, Mich.
Question No. 1: What personal characteristics will be helpful to you if you are elected ?
Ball: I am extremely detail-oriented with good communication skills, both of which will enable me to assist with the public meetings and notices as required by the position.
Rabal: Not only am I a Centerton resident, but I am also a Centerton business owner; therefore, I feel as though I have a vested interest in the well-being of the Centerton community. Since I live, work and play in Centerton, I am well connected to the individuals who live here and believe that I could provide for the city's needs. That being said, I have only lived here for 3 1 / 2 years and am not attached to just one school of thought or political belief. I am willing to bring forth new ideas.
Question No. 2: What should be the priorities of the person who fills the position you are seeking ?
Ball: To attend and assist the city in conducting public business properly and efficiently so that our city government can concentrate on matters beneficial to the community other than procedure.
Rabal: I believe the elected city attorney's main priority should be to ensure that the City Council operates within the requirements as provided for in the Arkansas Constitution. Additionally, the elected city attorney should attempt to ensure that the City Council meetings are run in an efficient and effective manner.
Question No. 3: How much legal experience have you had ?
Ball: I have been licensed to practice law since August of 1996 and have specifically had experience representing the city of Centerton while working as an associate at the Slinkard Law Firm.
Rabal: I have practiced law for just over three years, 2 1 / 2 years as a solo-practitioner. The majority of my practice consists of general civil litigation, family and criminal law, estate planning and personal injury. Prior to becoming licensed, I was a judicial law clerk for the Circuit Court in Eaton County, Mich.
Question No. 4: What nonlegal, but useful, experience would you bring to the job ?
Ball: I have been working in the field of economic development in real estate with Wal-Mart for the past six years, which not only includes the use of my legal training and background, but also working with local, state and federal governments and their attorneys on matters involving proper public meeting and notice procedure.
Rabal: I worked in the nonprofit sector for approximately 10 years. I worked for the National Foundation for Transplants as an advocate, working to provide individuals in need of an organ transplant a second chance at life. Additionally, I worked as a regional director for the American Heart Association for western Tennessee.
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