Bentonville Mayor Race: Candidate Q&A
Sam Hoisington
September 30, 2024
When Bentonville residents head to the polls on Nov. 5, they’ll have two choices for mayor: incumbent Stephanie Orman and challenger Steve Galen.
Orman is seeking reelection, giving the city’s administration an “A” for its performance. Galen, a retired Walmart supplier and political newcomer, believes the city hasn’t kept pace with growth and that it needs a “mayor who knows how to lead like a CEO.”
In this Q&A, the candidates discuss affordable housing, infrastructure, managing growth and more.
Answers were submitted via email, and each candidate followed word count limits: 100 words for some responses, 200 for others.
The candidates’ responses are published word for word, representing their opinions, and we do not guarantee the factual accuracy of the information contained in responses.
The Bentonville Bulletin is proud to provide this forum as an extension of our local journalism. Learn more about us here.
Table of Contents
Candidate Background and Motivation
Why are you running for mayor, and why should people vote for you?
Orman
I’m running for re-election to ensure Bentonville’s growth continues in a way that enhances the lives of every resident. Over the past five and a half years, my team and I, in collaboration with the community, have driven progress across all sectors—from improving financial transparency, recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association, to achieving an ISO Class 1 rating for our fire department, which ensures better safety for our families.
When it comes to why people should vote for me, my experience sets me apart. With over five years of leadership as mayor and a background in municipal governance, I’ve successfully managed over 700 employees and a budget exceeding $200 million.
Through strong partnerships and teamwork, we’ve consistently delivered results, from being named a Trendsetter City to earning recognition as one of the South’s Best Cities on the Rise by Southern Living. I’ve led Bentonville through both growth and challenges with a steady hand, and my proven track record shows I’m capable of leading us into the next stage of continued success.
I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and with your support, I look forward to building on this foundation.
Galen
I’m running for mayor because I love Bentonville, but I worry about the direction we’re heading. We are facing challenges with growth that just haven’t been addressed.
We need a mayor who has strong business acumen, leadership skills, and community building experience from decades of work with community and non-profit groups. We need a mayor who is a servant leader, who makes decisions and gets up from the desk and gets things done.
What is your political party affiliation?
Orman
As mayor, I’ve served in a nonpartisan role for the past six years, focusing on representing everyone in our community, regardless of political affiliation. My priority has always been to make decisions that prioritize collaboration, transparency, and fairness for all residents of Bentonville. Whether addressing growth, infrastructure, or public safety, my goal is to keep our city thriving.
While my role is nonpartisan, I am a registered Republican, but my commitment remains to serve everyone in Bentonville, no matter their party affiliation.
Galen
I consider myself a moderate Republican who believes in collaboration with both sides of the aisle.
Have you received any endorsements from community members? If so, who?
Orman
I’m proud to have received endorsements from a wide range of community members who support my leadership and vision for Bentonville.
Karilea Magee, who served as the mayor’s assistant for over 14 years under both my administration and former Mayor Bob McCaslin, has endorsed my campaign, as has Bryan Sexton, Benton County’s Prosecuting Attorney-Elect.
Avas Amin, a local business owner, community leader, and former member of the Housing Affordability Workgroup, Tom Frank, a respected business leader, and Doug and Stephanie Bryant, who have lived on the same street in Bentonville since 1985, have all endorsed me.
Galen
Yes. Former mayors Terry Black Coberly and Bob McCaslin, as well as former long time city planner, Troy Galloway have endorsed me. They understand the problems the city is facing under the current administration and know I have the experience, skills and training to lead Bentonville.
Have any Walton family members donated to your campaign?
Orman
My campaign is built on transparency and trust, which have been central to my leadership in Bentonville. While no members of the Walton family have donated to my campaign, I am grateful for the broad support I’ve received from across our community.
The Walton family has played a key role in Bentonville’s success and I deeply value their contributions to our city. As mayor, I remain focused on ensuring Bentonville continues to grow in a way that benefits everyone, with every resident’s voice contributing to our shared vision for the future.
Galen
None.
What are your three favorite things about living in Bentonville?
Orman
One of my favorite things about Bentonville is its strong sense of community and the collaborative infrastructure that connects us—like seeing the greenway between Bentonville and Fayetteville, celebrated through the Square 2 Square Bike Ride.
I also think it’s inspiring to see the amount of investment coming to our vibrant and amazing city and seeing the can-do spirit driving projects like Walmart’s new Home Office and a $700 million hospital. People are making world-class investments that strengthen our community and expand Bentonville’s influence across multiple sectors.
Galen
The best part of Bentonville is its citizens. We moved to Bentonville in 1996, expecting to live here for two years, but loved the community so much we are now 28-year residents. I also enjoy our unique small businesses, as well as the small-town charm.
What’s one thing you like about your opponent?
Orman
I respect my opponent’s passion for Bentonville and their willingness to step up and serve. Running for mayor requires dedication, and it’s clear we both care deeply about this community.
We may have different approaches, but our shared commitment to ensuring Bentonville continues to thrive is something we both hold dear. It’s encouraging to see fellow residents engage in the political process, as it highlights the strength of our local democracy.
Ultimately, Bentonville benefits from the hard work and dedication of everyone who loves this city.
Galen
I believe my opponent wants Bentonville to be better.
Key Issues and Priorities
In your opinion, what is the single biggest issue facing Bentonville?
Orman
One of the most important challenges we face is managing Bentonville’s ongoing growth in a way that preserves the unique character of our city. Growth brings great opportunities, but it also requires careful planning to ensure our infrastructure, land use, and public services continue to meet the needs of our community.
By focusing on thoughtful development and long-term planning, we can keep Bentonville moving forward while protecting what makes it special. I’m committed to working with our residents and stakeholders to ensure we grow in a way that benefits everyone and enhances the quality of life for all.
Galen
Traffic is the most visible issue facing Bentonville. It is a symptom of the city’s inability to prepare for growth. It is also related to the lack of housing in town. Because we don’t have enough housing to meet demand, we are pushing people outside of town, which just makes the traffic worse.
If you’re elected mayor, what are your top three priorities?
Orman
When re-elected, I will continue building on our core priorities of public safety, fiscal responsibility, and infrastructure.
Public safety remains my top focus—we’ve strengthened our fire department, achieving an ISO-1 rating, and enhanced police training with new facilities and resources.
Our commitment to fiscal responsibility has earned us more than 20 consecutive years of budget awards and top transparency rankings.
We’re also prioritizing major infrastructure projects like the 8th Street Corridor and J Street Interchange to reduce congestion and keep Bentonville connected as we grow.
Galen
Invest in our crumbling infrastructure, reduce traffic congestion and improve city procedures so our community can build homes to meet demand.
What role do you think the city government (and mayor) should play in creating affordable housing?
Orman
The city government’s role in addressing affordable housing is to foster an environment that encourages collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit sectors, empowering these groups to come together to find sustainable solutions. This means focusing on building a regulatory and developmental framework that facilitates efficient and cost-effective development.
By reducing barriers, simplifying approval processes, and promoting teamwork between developers and community organizations, Bentonville is creating pathways for affordable housing.
Bentonville has already implemented cottage zoning, which allows for smaller, community-focused housing clusters designed to provide more affordable options within the city. Currently, the city is exploring pattern zoning—a strategy that uses pre-approved architectural and site plans, which reduces development costs and speeds up approval timelines. This is part of the broader Plan Bentonville initiative, which aligns zoning regulations with long-term growth goals.
Through programs like Plan Bentonville and the revitalization of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Bentonville is ensuring that the community has a say in zoning decisions while creating opportunities for housing that aligns with the city’s values and character.
Galen
In a perfect world, market forces would determine housing supply and prices. The high prices indicate that the local market is begging for more homes, and we need to make it easier to build. However, the administration has established many obstacles, including red tape and bureaucracy, that drag out the time to build a home, increasing costs and scaring away homebuilders.
Housing is the largest component of cost of living and Bentonville has the highest home prices in NWA. Prices increased 74% from 2019, making home ownership unattainable for many Bentonville residents.
High demand for housing is also driving up rents and property taxes. We don’t have homes for our workforce and many three and four generation residents feel they’re being priced out of Bentonville, worried that their children won’t be able to afford to live here. Cities in Texas and Oklahoma have programs focused on increasing their attainable housing supply to attract a skilled workforce. Bentonville competes with these cities for workers.
As mayor, I will streamline the process and remove the bureaucracy that makes homebuilding in Bentonville so difficult and so costly. Better land use policies could also help improve supply.
What is your plan for affordable housing over the next four years?
Orman
The affordable housing crisis is a nationwide issue, impacting communities of all sizes, and Bentonville is no exception.
To better understand and address this challenge, we established the Housing Affordability Workgroup, which provided critical insights and laid the foundation for many strategies we are implementing today. This includes cottage zoning, which supports smaller, community-focused housing clusters. We are also evaluating pattern zoning—a potential approach that uses pre-approved plans to streamline development and reduce costs.
Additionally, we reinstated the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program after it was removed by a previous administration. By securing over $300,000 for 2024, this program will help fund affordable housing and community projects. As Bentonville continues to grow, we remain dedicated to refining our approach, using data and community feedback to adapt our strategies and ensure thoughtful development that balances growth with the preservation of our neighborhoods’ character.
This long-term approach reflects a commitment not only to addressing current needs but also to ensuring that our future growth is sustainable and in line with Bentonville’s values.
Galen
The city formed a Housing Affordability work group in 2021 that found home starts were not keeping pace with population growth and suggested that the city needs to “remove barriers and create incentives” to improve housing affordability.
Unfortunately, those recommendations were not implemented, and housing completions continue to decline. 2023 residential completions were down 43% from 2019 when the mayor took office. Bentonville’s population increased 16% during the same period.
As mayor, I will establish streamlined processes for permitting, removing roadblocks to make homebuilding in Bentonville more attractive to builders and less expensive to home buyers. Understanding our land-use policies and changing them to meet demand is critical. For example, we have large plats of land in the city that are still zoned for agriculture but are unused. Re-zoning them for housing would increase supply. I want my children and other young adults to be able to purchase a home in Bentonville.
The City Council blocked an affordable housing plan for teachers in February, citing concerns from neighbors. As a result, the project was moved to another location in town.
Do you think the city council made the right choice with its vote? Why or why not?
Orman
I didn’t vote on the City Council’s decision regarding the housing proposal, as the vote was 4-3 against the project. Since I only vote in the event of a tie, I wasn’t involved in this decision. However, I’ve always been a strong advocate for affordable housing in Bentonville and created the Housing Affordability Workgroup to explore solutions through community input and collaboration.
The proposal aimed to create affordable housing options, which are essential for maintaining a diverse and vibrant community. While I understand the Council’s concerns about zoning, my recommendation would have been for the project to pursue a Planned Residential Development (PRD) zoning request.
PRD zoning offers more predictability by requiring developers to present detailed design plans upfront and adhere to them throughout the project, giving everyone a clearer picture of the final development and reducing uncertainty. It also helps neighbors better understand potential impacts, such as flooding and traffic, and reduces concerns by ensuring a more comprehensive planning process.
As mayor, I remain committed to finding sustainable, thoughtful ways to bring more affordable housing to Bentonville, while ensuring that new developments fit within the city’s broader vision and protect the close-knit neighborhoods that make Bentonville unique.
Galen
I am disappointed that a rezoning request turned into a political fight. I fault my opponent for not providing leadership. The school district made this project public well in advance and there was ample time for discussion between the district, the city and residents to iron out conflicts.
I believe a solution could have been reached, but there was no opportunity for a give and take conversation between stakeholders. We should hold special sessions for big issues facing the city with the mayor as facilitator. Attendees should include City Council members, experts and residents. If we had employed this method, I believe we could have reached a solution that worked for everyone.
Do we have a short-term rental problem in Bentonville? If so, how should we address it?
Orman
Short-term rentals can provide economic benefits, but they also raise concerns about neighborhood character and housing availability. We recognize both sides, which is why the city formed a Short-Term Rental Work Group to assess their impact and create balanced solutions. The work group recommended a short-term rental registry, but it was not adopted by the city council.
Currently addressing these concerns requires neighborhoods to come together. Programs like Bentonville’s great neighbors partnership can help POAs and HOAs manage issues like this with revisions to their local covenants.
Our goal is to preserve neighborhood character while embracing the benefits of tourism, ensuring Bentonville remains a great place to live, work, and play.
Galen
The mayor’s 2023 work group on short-term rentals found that they take away from a sense of community, result in higher housing costs and higher transportation costs for permanent residents who end up living farther from work for affordability reasons. As a result of the increased traffic, the city has higher maintenance and capital costs. It’s not clear if this work group resulted in any recommendations or changes.
Market forces should help correct an imbalance, but it will take time. For example, Realtors tell me that many newer short-term rentals are being sold due to market forces such as new hotels and an over-supply of short-term rentals.
Bentonville’s public works director recently said the city underestimated population growth in recent years, contributing to water and sewage infrastructure issues. How can we catch up and build the infrastructure we need?
Orman
Water and sewer infrastructure are essential to Bentonville’s continued growth. The 2018 population growth estimates, made before I took office and before the announcement of Walmart’s new Home Office, underestimated our expansion, which led to challenges. After taking office, we began working on adjusting these projections to better reflect the city’s rapid development.
Among many improvements in 2024, we updated the Water Master Plan to account for an annual growth rate of 5-6.5%, ensuring that our planning meets both current and future demands. The Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority (NACA), which serves Bentonville, secured an $85 million ANRC loan to expand its wastewater treatment facilities and is under construction and expected to be completed in late 2024. This investment will help address the region’s growing infrastructure needs and support Bentonville’s development.
By collaborating with department heads, developers, and learning from other cities, we’re implementing long-term strategies that will ensure our water and sewer infrastructure supports Bentonville’s growth well into the future.
Galen
Bentonville’s sewer is the “biggest problem no one’s talking about” according to Brandom Gengelbach, president of the Greater Bentonville Chamber of Commerce. No one should worry whether their sinks will back up after a big rain, but that’s what voters in some neighborhoods tell me has happened.
Experts and consultants hired by the city have advised the mayor since 2019 that our sewer system was at capacity and action was needed. The cost to fix our sewer and water is $600M. This is a necessity, and I support the need. At this point, we don’t have a choice. As a taxpayer, I’m frustrated the city dragged its feet for six years. Costs increased more than 50% in the last several years and we could have fixed these systems for $400M if we had done it in a timely manner.
Additionally, the problem with the sewer impedes our ability to increase the housing supply, leading to higher home prices. I’m not a fan of kicking cans down the road. It’s always more expensive. As mayor, I’ll communicate issues to residents and address issues head on.
If you’re elected mayor, do you believe traffic in Bentonville will be better at the end of your term than it is now? If so, how will you make that happen?
Orman
Yes, I believe traffic in Bentonville will be significantly improved by the end of my next term. Between 2015 and 2019, there were few new road projects as the 2007 bond projects were being completed, which slowed progress on much-needed new infrastructure improvements.
When I took office in 2019, we began gathering data, assessing assets, and developing a plan to address these challenges. Despite the challenges posed by the 2020 pandemic, our team pushed forward on critical road projects, demonstrating our commitment to keeping Bentonville moving.
In 2021, we went to the public for a $266 million bond extension to support infrastructure. With strong community backing, the extension allowed us to continue the existing tax rate without adding new taxes, dedicating $173 million to road improvements.
To further improve traffic efficiency, we implemented the Iteris Vantage system, which uses high-definition cameras to detect traffic up to 600 feet away and adjust signals in real-time. The VantageLive! system continuously collects data on vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians, allowing our Traffic Management Center to monitor intersections remotely and optimize traffic flow.
With these strategic road investments and advanced technology, we’re well-positioned to reduce delays, optimize traffic flow, and support Bentonville’s continued growth.
Galen
Absolutely. As a mayor with a 38-year business career, education focused on decision-making and years of leadership training, I’ll focus on the three areas most pressing for a successful future: infrastructure, traffic and housing availability. All three are connected. All three have been allowed to reach crisis level.
Traffic requires a multi-pronged approach. I’ll bring experts to the table to develop a comprehensive plan to move people efficiently tomorrow and 20 years from now and I’ll work with state officials and regional partners to secure more funding for Bentonville.
Reflection and Future Vision
As you reflect on the past six years, do you feel Bentonville is headed in the right direction? Why or why not?
Orman
Yes, Bentonville is heading in the right direction. We’ve laid a foundation for something extraordinary, and Bentonville’s future is as vibrant as the people who call it home. Our progress has built a thriving community where growth is balanced with preserving the heart and soul of what makes Bentonville special. As part of our focus on enhancing quality of life, our parks and trails earned us a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation.
Bentonville’s public safety has been a cornerstone of success, with an ISO class 1 fire department and APPA awards for reliability and safety in our electric services. We’ve also maintained over two decades of GFOA Budget Awards, underscoring our commitment to financial stewardship and transparency.
We’ve been named Volunteer Community of the Year, and Bentonville businesses continue to lead, with one earning the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade.
At Thaden Field, we earned FAA Southwest Region’s Airport of the Year, and Creekside Park made us Trendsetter City of the Year.
Still, it’s not the awards that set Bentonville apart—it’s our people, our community, and our commitment to preserving our unique culture and tight-knit neighborhoods. That’s what makes Bentonville a great place to live, work, and play.
Galen
No. During the mayoral election in 2018, the top issues mentioned during the public forum were traffic, infrastructure and housing. In the last six years, these issues have only worsened. We’ve got great amenities, but the city’s core needs have gone unaddressed and are in crisis: traffic is worse, our infrastructure is crumbling and we’re not building homes to meet demand. We need a leader to get our city back on track.
As we grow, what other cities should we look to for lessons on growth so we can avoid their mistakes?
Orman
While many cities provide lessons on what not to do—where rapid growth has strained infrastructure or weakened community identity—we’re not focused on the negatives. Instead, we look to cities we can learn from, cities that are managing infrastructure, safety, and economic growth in ways that benefit their communities. In Bentonville, our priority is ensuring we get growth right by managing these core elements thoughtfully.
What sets Bentonville apart is our leadership in preserving our culture while growing. We’re not just focused on the mechanics of growth—we’re focused on maintaining the tight-knit neighborhoods and community spirit that define our city. This balance between responsible development and cultural preservation is what makes Bentonville unique.
Over the past five years, Bentonville hasn’t just grown—it’s become an even better place to live, work, and play. We’re not simply learning from others; we’re setting an example for how a city can grow sustainably while staying true to its values.
Galen
Most people I talk to mention that they don’t want Bentonville to become another Austin. Unfortunately, it seems we are heading in that direction.
Like Austin, our inability to manage growth has led to struggles with roads, sewer, and water. Our housing prices outpace wage growth, because the supply hasn’t kept up with demand.
Many long-term residents of Austin complain that their city’s character disappeared. I believe that we are still at a point where we can fix the problems in Bentonville. Bentonville needs a leader who can better navigate growth and address our problems.
Please give a letter grade, A-F, for the performance of the current administration. Explain.
Orman
Bentonville’s administration, department heads, and employees are truly the best of the best. Working alongside my dedicated team, we’ve seen our city thrive across multiple sectors over the past five and a half years. Given the significant achievements we’ve made—like maintaining our ISO Class 1 fire rating and being honored as Volunteer Community of the Year—it’s clear that Bentonville and its current administration deserve an A for having one of the most successful cities in the United States.
Strategic investments in critical projects addressing traffic, parks access, and utilities have allowed our city to manage rapid growth while enhancing the quality of life for our residents. Our recognition as a Trendsetter City highlights how this collaborative team embraces innovation to elevate Bentonville.
We are also proud to have maintained the Distinguished Budget Award for over 20 consecutive years. As one of the safest cities in the region, we benefit from the hard work of our expanded staff and the implementation of cutting-edge facilities that ensure exceptional response times. We are continuously seeking ways to improve and adapt as our needs evolve, always aiming to address both current and future opportunities to support the continued prosperity of our vibrant community.
Galen
I’d give the city a ‘C’. We’re building great amenities, but we’re not preparing the city for growth. The same issues that we faced six years ago – traffic, infrastructure and housing – are in even worse shape today. The city has formed several work groups to help understand the problems, but nothing has changed to address those problems. Bentonville needs a leader.