Jeff Morrow announced his bid for re-election to Benton City Council’s Ward 3, Position 2, in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Benton City Council member, Jeff Morrow, announced his re-election kick-off campaign on August 10th. “During my time on the Council I’ve had the opportunity to meet and connect with several residents of Benton within Ward 3. Most people are well-informed through news and social media outlets. At the end of the day, we need selfless problem-solvers,” Morrow said in the release.
Morrow was elected to his first term on the City Council in 2018. Throughout his term, he has served on several committees, including finance, streets and drainage, and health, safety & personnel. He has made ‘common-sense and transparency’ markers to build trust with voters, while simultaneously bringing his financial and service experience to promote in-depth discussions to the Council meetings. Additionally, Morrow has leaned on the leadership gained from his 29 years of military service to help navigate decisions with the City’s current crisis.
Morrow outlined three topics of special interest for a second term bid: (1) Public Safety, (2) Transparency, and (3) Infrastructure. “Our police, fire, and emergency personnel are dedicated and hard-working. We must support and recognize these noble professions. I believe it is our collective duty at the local-level to position Benton with opportunities to prosper, and to develop and promote safe neighborhoods and small business. There are some recent zoning issues impacting residents in downtown which remain to be addressed too,” he said.
“As a member of city government, I have taken the time to fully study how each proposal affects our city. Long-term strategic planning is critical at this time in our city’s history. We will have to continuously prioritize where we spend our tax-dollars. Thus, we must be creative in how we evaluate and propose solutions to issues facing Benton,” according to Morrow.
Another priority is to maintain public trust by maximizing each tax-dollar with little to no waste. “The City’s actions must be guided from public participation and reflect the values of our community. I want to elevate public awareness through open hearings and community outreach programs. Our city parks have seen tremendous improvement in recent years, my goal is to continue that momentum with bike trails and indoor tennis. Health and wellness are key to improving people’s happiness and longevity. We can certainly help in that regard.”
Morrow is a 1991 graduate from Ouachita Baptist University earning degrees in political science and history where he played football for four years. He later earned an accounting degree from UALR and passed the CPA exam in 2003 giving him a practical understanding of sound accounting principles and controls. While his CPA license is currently inactive, part of his daily job role at Acxiom involves industry audits, budgets, planning, and forecasting. He also earned an Executive MBA from UALR in 2012.
Morrow’s started his professional career at Stephens Inc. as an investment advisor. His current employer for the past 23 years, Acxiom LLC, where he has worked in several roles, including: finance, sales, operations, and management. In addition, Morrow is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves and in his 30th year of service. He has earned the prestigious Bronze Star Medal for his service during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Iraq from 2006-2007, as an Advisor. Also, he has taught military history, strategy and leadership, and force management for the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) during the last eight years.
Finally, Morrow has served in a variety of leadership roles within the community. Notably, with the Benton School Board for ten years where he served as Board President in 2012. During his tenure, Benton Schools made several positive strides in improving the school’s facilities, safety, and curriculum development with technology upgrades. In his spare time, Morrow works with local youth team sport groups and serves on his church finance committee in downtown Benton.
Jeff and his wife, Miki, have called Benton home since 1999. They have three children who all graduated from Benton High School and currently attend or have graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
“I will continue to put my best foot forward for all residents, as a government leader that earns your confidence,” Morrow wrote in his announcement. “There are many projects on the table, and I believe we can continue to build a thriving Benton with competent and experienced representation. Together, we can do more.”
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