Candidate news: Parks, Snively

Here’s a list of candidates who’ve recently sent us press releases announcing their plans to run for various seats in upcoming elections.

Also see:
» Candidate news: Balls, Boyle, Leding, Lester, Martin, Zimmerman
» Candidate news: Clark, Storey, Whitaker


Lisa Parks – Circuit Judge (Juvenile), 4th Judicial District, Division 3

Fayetteville attorney Lisa Parks announced her candidacy for re-election as Circuit Judge, Juvenile Division.

Read: “Lisa Parks Press Release”

Lisa Parks

Courtesy

Attorney Lisa Parks submitted over 2,100 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office in January to successfully place her name on the ballot for Juvenile Judge of Washington and Madison counties. By collecting the signatures, Parks saved her campaign almost $6,000 in filing fees. “It was a very cold, hard winter, but with the help of my incredible husband, family, and friends, we were able to gather more than enough signatures to get my name on the ballot.” Parks is running for this position because she says it is time for a real change in Juvenile Court.

More than fourteen years ago, Parks attended and graduated from the Fayetteville law school as a single mother of three children and was awarded the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers Scholarship. After law school, she jumped straight into Juvenile Court because it was the place that she felt she could make a real difference in the lives of children. Today Parks is an attorney with the Washington and Madison County Drug Court Program.

“I see people beyond the sum of their mistakes. Given my own history, I have faith in people for what they can achieve if given a deserving second chance. As your drug court attorney, I have seen first-hand the great work that judges like Mary Ann Gunn, Chadd Mason, and Cristi Beaumont have done for families. They save taxpayers money by looking at treatment options, not overcrowded jails. They bring about lasting change.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arkansas has ranked dead last in the nation in the category of “disconnected youth”. She explains how it is the measure of teenagers between the age 16 and 19 who are not enrolled in school and are also not employed. She believes it is unacceptable to allow these disconnected youth to sit idle because, as she warns, it spells trouble.

“I will connect with our community and talk with local businesses and non-profits. I will put idle hands to work volunteering and doing things that matter. We must get kids connected to the community. I intend to build the strongest mentoring program our state has seen. I want to give our kids the opportunity to be around people who care about them,” said Parks. “I want to give kids the opportunity to do something that matters – that matters to the community and that matters to them.”

“I believe the best solution to a mistake or crime is a healthy dose of accountability. Accountability must extend not only to the children but also to the parents. I’ll hold children accountable, but I’ll also ask whether the parent’s lack of participation was part of the problem,” says Parks. “However, we must understand that accountability does not always equal incarceration. I believe that a Judge can set boundaries and bring about opportunities for families to succeed. Our drug court has been successful in offering second chances and alternatives to expensive and ineffective lock ups….our juvenile court can be a leader.”

Parks agrees that Juvenile Justice is tough. She explains that “not all children are born into the same set of perfect circumstances. However, Juvenile Court is where we can prevent a lifetime of criminal behavior…..it is the place where we can make a real difference in the lives of children…..in the lives of families,” she added.

Parks lives in Tontitown with her husband, Scott Parks, also a local attorney. They have four children and one grandson. Parks currently serves on the board of Project Right Choice, is a former member the Ozark Literacy Council board, is a member of the Arkansas and National Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Arkansas and National Associations of Drug Court Professionals.


Tim Snively – Fayetteville District Judge

Fayetteville attorney Tim Snively announced he is running for Fayetteville District Judge. The position was held by Rudy Moore, who died after 22 years on the bench.

Read: “Tim Snively Press Release”
Press Release

Tim Snively

Courtesy

Fayetteville attorney Tim Snively announced his campaign for Fayetteville District Judge. The position was formerly held by Judge Rudy Moore. A nonpartisan election is scheduled for May 20, 2014.

Snively has been licensed to practice law in Arkansas for 16 years. He has had a very broad practice handling cases in almost every area of the law and has represented thousands of clients in civil, criminal and family law matters. He has experience working in the Fayetteville District Court handling both civil and criminal cases. On occasion he has sat in as Fayetteville District Judge during Judge Moore’s absence.
“I have a plan to keep the streets safe by establishing a DWI Court.  DWI Courts are accountability courts dedicated to changing the behavior of DWI offenders. I will protect public safety and reduce repeat offenders through more comprehensive and closer supervision.  Studies show participants are up to 19 times less likely to reoffend.  DWI Courts are endorsed by MADD, the National Sheriffs’ Assoc., and the American Judges’ Assoc.”  (www.dwicourts.org)

Snively is a former President of the Washington County Bar Association, while he was President, the Washington County Bar was named the outstanding local bar association in the state by the Arkansas State Bar Association.

Snively attended the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville where he earned his Juris Doctor. While at Law School, he was elected President of the University of Arkansas Law School Student Bar Association and was student representative to the American Bar Association.

Snively is licensed to practice by the Arkansas and Texas Supreme Courts, the United States Federal District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and was elected to the House of Delegates. He is also a Barrister with the William B. Putman Inns of Court.

He is married to Cristi Beaumont, and has three daughters.