Seven candidates file for open Fort Smith mayor post - Talk Business & Politics
Former Fort Smith City Director Lavon Morton is one of 15 candidates to file for the city’s four offices on the November general election ballot. The open mayoral seat drew seven candidates, with eight. . .
Former Fort Smith City Director Lavon Morton is one of 15 candidates to file for the city’s four offices on the November general election ballot. The open mayoral seat drew seven candidates, with eight candidates filing for three city director posts. The city’s filing deadline was noon Wednesday (Aug. 5). Fort Smith City Clerk Sherri Gard said 32 candidate packets were picked up, a record for the city. Less than half were returned by candidates who qualified for the ballot. City positions on the November ballot are Fort Smith mayor and city director at-large positions 5, 6 and 7. Fort Smith Mayor George McGill is not seeking reelection after two four-year terms in office. Director Christina Catsavis is in Position 5, Director Kevin Settle is in Position 6, and Director Neal Martin is in Position 7. Two of the three director posts are open. Catsavis is running for mayor, leaving the Position 5 seat open. Settle recently announced he is not seeking reelection. The candidates for mayor are Director Catsavis, Nataylia Deer, Sara Harrison, Director Lee Kemp, Shayne McKinney, Yvette Powers, and Dan Williams. The candidates for the board position 5 seat are Krystal Cadelli, Quinton Cunningham, Morton, and Molly Radhakrishnan. Candidates for the board position 6 seat are Casey Millspaugh, Carl Nevin, and Brian Trumbly. Director Neal Martin was the only candidate to file for the board position 7 seat. “All petitions for candidacy submitted by the individuals listed above have been verified,” noted a statement from the city. “Accordingly, the candidates for Mayor and Director-at-Large Positions 5 and 6 will appear on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 general election. With regard to Director-at-Large Position 7, incumbent Neal Martin is declared elected without opposition and no necessity for inclusion on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. ”The general election in Nov. 3. The runoff election, which may be necessary if all city of Fort Smith candidates make the ballot, is Dec. 1. In Fort Smith’s council-manager form of government, the mayor is largely a ceremonial position, with the seven-member board of directors approving budgets, policies and other key functions. The board also has hire-fire authority over the city administrator, who is effectively the city’s CEO. MORTON INFOMorton issued a press release Wednesday about his candidacy. He was the ward 3 director on the city board from April 2019 to December 2024. He moved from ward 3 in January 2025 and was not eligible to be re-elected to the ward 3 position. “I enjoyed my time as a City Director, especially the opportunity to meet and get to know more of the people throughout the City,” Morton said in a statement. “I want to continue to work with other Directors and the City Administration and City Departments for the benefit of the Fort Smith community. I believe my experience as a CPA with a long career in the business world and my knowledge of budgets and other financial matters important to the City will be valuable in helping the City address its challenges. ”Morton retired from Fort Smith-based ArcBest at the end of 2016 after a 20-year career with the company. Prior to joining ArcBest in 2016, Morton worked for the international accounting firm Ernst & Young for 24 years, the last 12 years as a partner. His community service includes being an Arkansas Colleges of Health Education board member, a board member with the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House in Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Symphony, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Foundation and the Arkansas Imagination Library in Little Rock, an affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. He is a citizen member of the city’s Audit Advisory Committee, and has served on the committee for more than 20 years, either as a citizen member or as a board member. Morton is married to Brenda Yelvington. Their daughter Kameron is a 2014 graduate of Northside High School. Related