By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
James Glenn, 53, who has served on the Cabot City Council for 18 years, announced this week that he is ready to run for the city’s highest office. Glenn is an independent who is not affiliated with any political party. His opponents are Alderman David Polantz, who also could run as an independent; former Lonoke County Justice of the Peace Kenny Ridgeway, who announced as an independent; former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams and former Justice of the Peace Bill “Pete” Pedersen, both Republicans.
Glenn said his concern for the city of Cabot is the flow of traffic. “Cabot has seen rapid growth over the past 20 years, and due to its location and exceptional schools this growth will continue,” he said in an announcement. “This growth also affects the number of fire stations that serve the city. In order to provide the city of Cabot with exceptional fire services, additional stations are needed.”
Glenn and his wife, Deloris, who is a lifetime resident of Cabot, have been married for 33 years. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. He is employed with George Ficher Sloane, in Little Rock. He drives a bus for Cabot School District and is an active member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Glenn says he welcomes phone calls from Cabot residents who want to talk about their concerns, and can be reached at 843-7427.
Pedersen was the fourth Cabot resident to announce for mayor. He will face Williams in the May Republican Primary. Will-iams was the first to announce his plans to run. He talked to The Leader shortly after Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh took office three years ago.
Stumbaugh’s announcement for U.S. Congress in Arkansas’ First District last summer opened up the race for mayor.
Ridgeway and Polantz were second and third, respectively, to enter the race. Like Glenn, the other candidates say traffic and other planning concerns are the main issues of this mayor’s race. “I realize that our traffic situation is one of our greatest challenges,” Pedersen said in a recent release about his candidacy.
“I am willing to take on that challenge, along with any other challenges that Cabot may endure.” As Williams campaigns, he talks about the planned railroad overpass that will keep buses off the railroad tracks and is touted as the first phase of a north interchange. Polantz, who is third in seniority on the council, following Bob Duke who retires this year after 30 years and Glenn, routinely votes against zoning issues that he thinks will make traffic worse.
“What pushed me over the edge into running was number one, the traffic,” Ridgeway said when he announced his candidacy last fall. “Cabot isn’t traffic friendly and I just got tired of hearing people talk about it.” All five say their experience in local government will be an asset to the mayor’s office.
