Sparks dropping out of Rogers School Board race

Mark Sparks
Mark Sparks

ROGERS -- Mark Sparks is dropping out of the race for the School Board's at-large Position 7 seat, leaving one candidate in the running.

Sparks, who retired from his job as the School District's deputy superintendent this summer, said Monday he's moving out of state and will be ineligible to serve on the board.

Nathan Gairhan, president and chief executive officer of United Bank, is the remaining candidate. He said he hadn't heard from Sparks, but he talked to the Benton County Clerk's Office, which informed him of Sparks' decision.

Sparks and Gairhan filed in July to run for the seat being vacated by Lisa Anderson, who opted not to run for re-election after five years on the board.

Ballots for the Sept. 20 election have been printed, so Sparks' name will appear on them, said Samantha Hufford, a deputy clerk at the clerk's office.

Votes received by any person who withdrew from a race or died after ballots were printed are counted. If that person receives enough votes to win the election, a vacancy in election is declared, according to state law.

Sparks came to Rogers in 2003 to be principal at Lingle Middle School. He was promoted to deputy superintendent in 2006.

The other board race in Rogers is for the at-large Position 6 seat. Caley Vo, Mitch Lockhart and Bob White are running for that seat.

NW News on 08/30/2016

Upcoming Events