Bella Vista, ARVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Bella Vista Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 6

council seats up

4 contests

12 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council Ward 1 Position 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 2 Position 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 Position 2 · 1 seat

Voters citywide choose the mayor and one candidate in each of three ward-based council contests; all council members are elected at large.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Travis HarpCouncil Member, Ward 1, Position 1; term ends December 31, 20286sourcedAnna IsbellCouncil Member, Ward 3, Position 1; term ends December 31, 20284sourcedShea NewportCouncil Member, Ward 2, Position 1; term ends December 31, 20284sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesShort-term rentals, Solid waste and recycling, Prepared food and beverage taxKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Short-term rentals

Where it standsThe council voted down raising the short-term rental permit cap from 600 to 687 in July 2026 and referred a density rule to the Planning Commission.

What's on the tableWhether to revisit the permit cap and whether to adopt a density rule once the Planning Commission reports.

Solid waste and recycling

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council approved a three-year extension of the solid waste contract that adds an optional monthly curbside recycling service.

What's on the tableHow the city oversees the extended contract and its optional recycling program.

Prepared food and beverage tax

Where it standsAn ordinance to cut the prepared food and beverage tax from 1% to 0.5% had its first reading in August 2026 and a second reading on the September 28 agenda.

What's on the tableWhether to reduce the tax rate that helps fund the Advertising and Promotion Commission.

Growth and development standards

Where it standsThe council is weighing new development rules while the city grows; an August 2026 effort to review development waivers failed.

What's on the tableHow development standards, tree and green-space rules and infrastructure checks are set.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. What should the city do about the cap on short-term rental permits?

  2. 2. Should the city add a distance rule between short-term rentals?

  3. 3. How should the city handle its trash contract and recycling?

  4. 4. What should happen to the city's 1% prepared food and beverage tax?

  5. 5. How should infrastructure be timed against new development?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Travis Harp, Anna Isbell, Shea Newport3 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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