The City of Benton will interview candidates beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13th to pick a new City Attorney. The position is currently held by Brent Houston, who has served the City for over 12 years.
Houston won his recent bid for Saline County Circuit Judge, Third Division. As Judge, he won’t be able to practice as an attorney. He will take office in January 2021, leaving two years vacant in his current term.
The City Council will meet with each of the following five candidates in Council Chambers at Benton City Hall as they compete for the position:
Brian Butler is currently a Partner at Huffman Butler, PLLC. He has worked with a variety of cases, including home, business and family law, as well as criminal cases. He has trial experience in state and federal court. He earned his Juris Doctor in 2004 from UALR Bowen School of Law. He also has a B.A. in History and Political Science from Ouachita Baptist University and graduated from Benton High School.
Degen Clow is currently Managing Partner/COO of WH Law. He has experience in litigation, extension first chair jury trial with both criminal and complex civil litigation cases. He is also Legal Counsel for a chapters of the Fraternal Order of Police in Bryant and Little Rock, and a Recruit Instructor for the LRPD. He earned his Juris Doctor from UALR Bowen School of Law in 2013, and a B.S. in Cardio-Pulmonary Care from UAMS College of Health Professions.
Bobby Digby is currently the Owner at Digby Law Firm. He has experience in general practice with an emphaseis on trialwork, representing clients in civil, criminal, domestic and probate matters, as well as managment of a successful law practice with multiple employees. He earned his Juris Doctor from University of Arkansas in 2005. He also has a B.A. in Public Administration from Henderson State University.
Baxter Drennon is currently an Attorney at Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP. He has served as lead counsel in hundreds of cases and trial counsel in over a dozen cases. He has represented multiple municipal entities, including assisting them in preparing ordinances and resolutions, FOIA responses, Arkansas code complance, procurement, and condemnation actions. He earned his Juris Doctor from University of Arkansas in 2010 as well as a B.A. in Political Science. He is a member of the Benton Planning and Zoning Commission.
Chance Nalley is currently a Partner at Lovell, Nalley & Nalley. He handles a variety of criminal and civil cases, including insurance/injury, real estate, probate, divorce, custody, business disputes and business incorporations. He is the current Vice President of the Saline County Bar Association. He earned his Juris Doctor from UALR Bowen School of Law in 2017. He also studied Small Business/Entrepreneurship Managment at the University of Arkansas.