Searcy, ARVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Searcy City Council Election 2026

8 of 8

council seats up

2 contests

4 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.

City Council Ward 1 Position 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 Position 2 · 1 seat

All eight council seats are up in 2026. Two are contested and listed here; the other six council members are running unopposed. The mayor is also running unopposed.

2 notes on these statements

Mayor Mat Faulkner, City Attorney Will Moore and six council members (Brett Kirkman, Tonia Hale, Chris Howell, Dale Brewer, Rodger Cargile and Mike Chalenburg) are running unopposed. The Daily Citizen · Aug 6, 2026

Donald P. Raney said this is the first time in his 12 years on the council that he has a competitor. The Daily Citizen · Aug 6, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Dale BrewerSearcy city councilmember for Ward 4, Position 1.5sourcedRodger CargileSearcy city councilmember for Ward 2, Position 2.5sourcedMike ChalenburgSearcy city councilmember for Ward 4, Position 2.6sourcedTonia HaleSearcy city councilmember for Ward 3, Position 1.6sourcedChris HowellSearcy city councilmember for Ward 2, Position 1.6sourcedBrett KirkmanSearcy city councilmember for Ward 1, Position 1.6sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesPolice and city facilities, City budget and sanitation costs, Economic development fundingKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Early voting begins

Mon, Oct 19, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Police and city facilities

Where it standsThe council approved a future facilities use plan and a land purchase near the new community center in October 2025.

What's on the tableWhere and how to build a new police facility and what to do with other city properties.

City budget and sanitation costs

Where it standsThe council adopted the 2026 operating budget in January 2026 after debating sanitation overtime.

What's on the tableHow the city sets next year's budget, including overtime and vehicle costs.

Economic development funding

Where it standsThe council approved the annual Forward Searcy agreement in February 2026.

What's on the tableWhether and how much to keep funding Forward Searcy in future budgets.

Property tax rate

Where it standsThe council kept the millage rate unchanged for 2025 collections in 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to change the city millage rate in future years.

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. Should the city buy land near the new community center at S. Main and Recreation Way?

  2. 2. What should be the next big city building project?

  3. 3. How should the city equip its sanitation department?

  4. 4. Should the city keep funding Forward Searcy?

  5. 5. What should the city do with its property tax rate?

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

6 stay (not up this year): Dale Brewer, Rodger Cargile, Mike Chalenburg, Tonia Hale, Chris Howell, Brett Kirkman8 on this ballot

8 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

  • The Searcy City Council has eight members: two for each of four wards, each in a numbered position. City of Searcy
  • Regular council meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at City Hall. City of Searcy

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

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