Adonis Hopper, District 6 candidate (Democrat)

Hopper is a graduate of Blytheville High School and Arkansas Northeastern College (as MCCC). She is currently serving as Quorum Court Justice for District 3. She has been employed with Cotton Boll Technical Institute as a bookkeeper for the GED Department and Accounts Payable, and at Armorel School District as Food Service Director. She is currently employed as bookkeeper for Hopper Land Co. and helps with Hopper & Hopper Farms. She is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and has been a scout leader for the past 14 years, and is a member of Ruddle Road Church of God.

On the county's current financial situation:

Improvement for the county's financial situation is to continue staying within the projected budget, and thanks to our elected officials, the county is doing a very good job. I know, being on the Quorum Court, that we passed a millage increase. This was something I was against, but knowing the financial constraint we are in there was no other solution.

On population loss in Mississippi County:

The population loss in Mississippi County is a great concern. We as citizens need to talk up our county in a positive way. The county needs to recruit new businesses and industry, and they are working hard to do this. Education needs to be pushed in our county, encourage students to do their best, get a degree in something they want to do and enjoy, then come back home and put that education to work for your county.

On relations and communication between the county and its municipalities:

As of now, the judge and the mayors of the county meet twice a month, and I think this does help. We now have 13 Justices on the Quorum Court, and due to population loss we will only have 11 Justices to serve the county. These 11 Justices can represent the county as a whole but also be the voice for the district they represent. Communication between the county and the municipalities is something we need. The county has resolved problems through communication.

On the reduction of crime in Mississippi County:

First we need to support our county and local law enforcement agencies. We need more neighborhood watches and offer information on how neighborhood watches can benefit the county.

On the responsibilities of a Quorum Court Justice:

The responsibilities of quorum Court Justices are to understand how the county operates and how the money collected is used within the county. The county has several different committees, such as road and bridges, fire and safety, economic development, energy and property, finance, and several more. I do participate in as many of these committee meetings as possible to better understand what is happening within the county or if there is a problem that needs to resolved. We meet, discuss, and vote on how to address any problems that may occur.

Campaign statement:

My goal is to listen to the citizens of Mississippi County, so that I can be their voice for the county. I know the county is struggling, but if we can turn it around through economic growth, and promote a positive attitude about our county. I have seen this county thriving in the past and I want to see this again. So I am asking for your vote on November 6, 2012.