Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman announced her reelection bid at Meteor Guitar Gallery Tuesday night. 

Orman, elected in 2018, is serving her first term as mayor. She faces a challenge from retired businessman and political newcomer Steve Galen, who announced his campaign in June. The election will take place on Nov. 5.

Bentonville mayors typically serve four-year terms. Orman’s term was extended by two years due to a state law requiring cities with over 50,000 residents to elect mayors during presidential years. The city exceeded that threshold with the 2020 Census.

In her campaign kickoff speech, Orman focused on city developments and projects that took place during her five and a half years in office.

Among the projects that Orman highlighted:

• Road construction projects, like the ongoing work on widening 8th Street and planned work on Rainbow Curve.

• The expansion of the Bentonville Public Library, which should be finished later this year.

• The construction of new training facilities for police and fire departments.

• The opening of Creekside Park, which includes a cricket field, pickleball courts, splash pad and a dog park.

• The creation of a draft future land use map, with an eye on how Bentonville will grow in the next 25 years. 

• The launch of 311, an all-in-one hub for city services and information.

• The passage of a major bond initiative in 2021 that raised $266 million for streets, parks and many of the other projects the mayor mentioned.

“When I first ran for office, I promised to be your community’s mayor, dedicated to transparency, collaboration and responsive government,” Orman said. “Today, I’m proud to say we’ve not only kept those promises, but in many areas exceeded those.

“Strong economic growth of the past five years has led to improved amenities such as better shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural offerings, and have also led to significant investment in public infrastructure, such as our parks and transportation systems, which enhances the quality of life for us all,” Orman added.

More campaign details can be found at OrmanForMayor.com.

As the race develops, The Bentonville Bulletin plans to ask all candidates in-depth policy questions so voters can make an informed decision. In line with our commitment to produce fair, impartial journalism, we do not endorse candidates for public office.