Fayetteville: Candidate ducks query about probe

ROBERT J. SMITH
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

NOTE: This article contains a correction, in red, of the originally published version.
FAYETTEVILLE -- A City Council candidate opted not to answer a question at a forum Tuesday about a police investigation of him in which the prosecutor has said that she doesn't expect to file any charges.
Ward 2 candidate Randy Zurcher responded to but didn't the question at a Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce forum from Glenn Sowder, a Ward 2 resident who ran for Fayetteville mayor in 1992. Sowder asked Zurcher about allegations that he used state-owned computers to look at pornography while he was an employee of the state Department of Human Services.
"Mr. Zurcher, do you feel your use of DHS computers to gain access to pornographic sites was an appropriate use of your employer's time and resources?" Sowder asked.
Forum moderator Bobby Ferrell cut in before Zurcher could respond, telling him he was "not compelled to answer that."
Zurcher spoke anyway but didn't specifically answer Sowder's question.
"There's a lot to the story," Zurcher told Sowder. "I think you probably know as much as I do on [the investigation]."
Zurcher, who resigned from his Human Services Department job Sept. 15, was placed on administrative leave in July. He is the subject of an Arkansas State Police child pornography investigation that remains open. It's not been determined whether Zurcher viewed child pornography, police have said.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Robin Green has said that Zurcher probably won't face charges because the only two images from the computer she's seen don't constitute child pornography. Green is waiting for the state police to finish its investigation before she makes a final decision.
Zurcher released a statement denying any wrongdoing shortly after the police announced the investigation.
Zurcher began work at the Bentonville office of the Human Services Department in March 1999 and was later transferred to the Fayetteville office,
Sowder, who had his question written before the forum started Tuesday, said after the forum that he supports one of Zurcher's opponents, Butch Green. A third candidate -- Kyle Cook -- has a political sign in Sowder's yard.
"I question the common sense of a person who'd boot up a hit on a state computer," Sowder said.
Zurcher's opponents said it was fair for the question about the investigation to be asked.
"We've stayed off it," Green said. "It's not something we need to do, but it's a viable question from the public."
All three candidates at the forum attended by 15 chamber members addressed a question about the city's practice of taking money instead of land for parks when developers build new subdivisions.
Cook, who owns a remodeling business, said he favors sometimes taking cash from developers instead of always taking land for parks. He said some of the land the city receives "isn't very viable land."
Green, who owns Spectrum Engineering Inc. of Fayetteville, said he believes in taking money instead of land because the city has "more land than we can maintain."
"It's kind of hard to get much value out of land in a flood plain," Green said.
Zurcher, who was on the City Council from January 1997 to August 1998 before he moved out of Ward 2, voiced opposition taking money instead of land.
Speaking about his qualifications for the Ward 2 seat, Zurcher said he "consistently voted in the public interest." He said he has been active and involved in city issues and "promises respect for the public."
Green, a 19-year resident of Fayetteville, said past Ward 2 candidates have had "very narrow focuses" and have done a poor job of representing the whole ward.
Cook said he'd "try to create unity" if he's elected Nov. 7. He said he has the ability to "listen to all sides and make rational decisions."

This article was published on Wednesday, October 18, 2000

RETURN to The Children's Hour

Copyright and permissions
Copyright © 2000, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.