Attorney to keep working with city
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Jason Kelley will still be known not as the city attorney, but the attorney hired to perform legal services for the city - at least for another year.
Late last month the aldermen approved a resolution to extend Kelley's contract with the city for an additional year.
With the new contract, the elected city attorney position remains vacant. Kelley could be appointed to the position at the end of his contract next May, or the city could choose to hold a special election before the 2010 general election.
Kelley's path to working for the city was an unusual one. He was not a candidate for the city attorney in the 2006 general election when Bella Vista incorporated. The position was declared vacant at the first council meeting in January 2007 when attorney Paul Bridges was not sworn into office.
Initial election results showed Bridges the winner, but he conceded the race when a recount of votes showed opponent Ray Bunch won. Bridges then accepted a job with a Rogers law firm, although subsequent election recounts revealed Bridges was the winner by just four votes.
Kelley graduated from Arkansas State University and attended law school at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.
After moving to Bentonville in 1997, he worked for a private law firm and as the city attorney for Elm Springs before becoming deputy prosecutor of Benton County until early 2003.
Kelley and wife Lisa work together in a private law firm in Bentonville.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online