BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Municipal candidate filing began July 31, and several mayoral hopefuls wasted no time to throw their hats into the ring for the November election in Bentonville.
On Wednesday, Mayor Stephanie Orman announced she is running for reelection. She officially filed the following day.
"I am running for reelection because my commitment to Bentonville is rooted in a profound love for this community and a vision for its bright future," Orman said. "Together, we have made incredible strides, transforming our city into a model of growth, innovation, and resilience."
Before Orman was elected mayor in 2018, she had served as a city council member in 2015.
If elected for a second term, Orman said she is looking to build upon her success. During her first term, Orman said she assisted in implementing the city's 311 communication system, developing a city plan for sustainable growth, and more.
She said she has brought a "hands-on approach to governance," which has been reflected in community engagement programs like the Mayor's Youth Council and Bentonville Together Initiative.
Steve Galen, a 28-year Bentonville resident, officially filed to run for mayor on Wednesday. However, Galen announced his campaign in June.
"I’m thrilled to make it official today and file to run for mayor," Galen said. "The feedback I’ve received from the community since I announced my intention to run has been tremendously encouraging. It’s clear the people of Bentonville are ready for change."
Galen said former Bentonville Mayors Bob McCaslin and Terry Coberly have endorsed him.
If elected, Galen said he would focus on making improvements to infrastructure, speeding up construction, supporting local businesses, monitoring the use of taxpayer funds, and supporting first responders and law enforcement.
"These are real problems we’re all facing, and it’ll take real leadership and experienced management to fix," Galen said. "I’m eager to continue talking to voters in Bentonville about my ideas and solutions, and I’ll be working hard every day to earn their vote on Nov. 5."
Galen spent over 30 years in business, working for 3M, Del Monte Foods, Timex, and Bissell Homecare. Galen said he led large retail teams and managed multimillion-dollar budgets during his career. After 15 years, Galen left Bissell where he served as the senior director until Dec. 2023. Galen continues to serve as a board member for the Bentonville Library Foundation and Best Friends Animal Society.
Galen has been married to his wife Susan for 30 years. They have two kids who graduated from Bentonville public schools.
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