The Whole Picture

If you knew Ben Hunt only from his campaign, you would know about his military service, his business experience, his plans for Bella Vista and people who have praised his leadership.

There is another record voters can examine.

It begins years before this campaign.

A business record that spans 16 years

The records we have verified identify 27 legal actions involving Hunt personally or businesses associated with him. Twenty-two resulted in judgments. They span 2010 through 2026.

As of Nov. 3, 2026, Hunt is personally responsible for $454,534.65 in judgments and interest (our calculation). Of that, $45,239.46 is his alone. Another $409,295.19 is shared with co-defendants under joint-and-several liability, which means each co-defendant can be made to pay the full amount.

Another $242,744.65 in judgments and interest is against Hunt's companies alone. Hunt is not personally liable for those company-only judgments. Voters may want to consider those judgments in deciding how businesses he owned or co-owned handled their obligations.

How we calculated these totals › · See his work history, from public records ›

Who was responsible?

Case	Judgment against	Hunt personally?	Michael Perry
Smith (2025)	Hunt and 241 Builders	Yes	Not a party; now holds the judgment by assignment
Volkl (2025)	Hunt and 241 Builders	Yes	Not a party; AXRE, LLC, for which he signed as member, now holds the judgment by assignment
Partnership case (2026), $130,000	Hunt and 241 Builders	Yes	Other side (plaintiff)
Partnership case (2026), $32,000	Hunt alone	Yes	Other side (plaintiff)
Broglen (2021)	Hunt, Perry and both Walston companies	Yes	Co-defendant
Mitchell (2025)	241 Builders	No (company)	Not a party
Rost Ready Mix (2024)	241 Builders	No (company)	Not a party
Bekebrede (2022)	Walston Timber Frame, LLC	No (company)	Not a party

The jury in the partnership case also awarded Hunt $5,000 on his claim against Perry.

These are the 8 judgments from private lawsuits. See all 27 legal actions, including state tax and employment-security judgments and cases with no judgment, in the Court Case Index ›

The cases are not all alike. They involve taxes, customers, vendors, unemployment-insurance claims and business partners. Some judgments have been paid. Others remain unpaid.

One of the largest cases went to trial in 2026. A jury found Hunt and 241 Builders, LLC, liable for breach of fiduciary duty to a company Hunt co-owned. It also found Hunt liable for conversion and awarded that company $32,000. The court entered more than $174,000 in judgments against Hunt and/or 241 Builders. Hunt won $5,000 on a separate claim against his former business partner.

Hunt has acknowledged parts of this record. In a Sept. 7 campaign statement, he wrote that "approximately $45,000, including estimated accrued interest, is identified as my clearly individual obligation." That is close to our calculation of $45,239.46 in judgments that are his alone.

Hunt also wrote: "There are other judgments involving joint-and-several liability, and I am not hiding them." Our calculation of those jointly owed judgments is $409,295.19.

Records: Court judgments & amounts owed › · Smith pool case › · Hunt's Sept. 7 statement (PDF) ›

What people who worked with him say

Court records establish what happened in court. They do not tell the whole story of working with Hunt or his businesses.

Several named people have given FBVV accounts of their own experiences.

Michael Perry knew Hunt for more than 15 years and was his business partner. His account adds what the court files leave out: how the partnership worked and how it ended.

Perry says that soon after the two agreed in 2021 to wind down their companies in an orderly way, Hunt took actions that devastated the business and made it impossible to finish jobs customers had already paid for. Perry says he personally covered costs and worked with customers to avoid judgments because Hunt did not act.

He paints a very different picture of Hunt as a business owner than the one Hunt presents to voters. At the Oct. 6 mayoral forum, Hunt said, "I've had thousands of employees." Perry says: "If Ben has said that he has had thousands of employees, then from what I know, that would be a lie. In the 15 years I've known Ben, outside our partnership, I know of maybe 25 employees total. Including our partnership companies, maybe double that, about 50."

Perry now holds judgments against Hunt for collection. His message to Bella Vista voters: vote for Hunt, because "that will help assist me in garnishing his paychecks."

Perry's account is his own, not a court finding. Hunt's side follows each part of his statement.

Records: Michael Perry's account › · What Hunt says about his business record › · Jury verdicts ›

Darren Smith says his company paid Hunt's company $72,000 toward a $150,000 project in 2014. He says Hunt stopped showing up and returning calls and that the project was never finished.

Jason Bekebrede says timber he bought from Hunt's company was not good quality and was not suitable for the project, and that Hunt agreed to take it back and refund the payment. He says the refund never came. In a contested trial, the judge found that Hunt agreed to accept the timber back and refund the payment, and breached that agreement. The $5,222.16 judgment is against Walston Timber Frame, LLC.

Carl and Donna Mitchell say they hired Hunt in 2022 for a concrete building project they expected to take about three months. They describe Hunt as "personable, charming, confident, and very good at talking to people," and say they trusted him. More than a year later, they say, the project was still far from finished after repeated delays and missed work.

By then, their concerns had gone beyond delays. The Mitchells say two companies refused to enter the structure because of unsafe construction. They hired an engineering firm, which they say documented problems involving concrete-form blow-outs, reinforcement and visible deflection. They say other contractors had to reinforce, alter and salvage the structure and finish work Hunt had not completed.

For the Mitchells, the consequences were personal. They are retired and disabled, and say the money they put into the project was their savings. "At the point in life when we should have been enjoying retirement," they wrote, "we were instead watching our savings disappear into a construction project that was supposed to have taken approximately three months." They say the experience consumed their time, money, peace of mind and retirement savings, and that years later they still become emotional talking about it.

Their lawsuit resulted in a $206,839 default judgment against 241 Builders, LLC — not Hunt personally. The Mitchells say they collected no money themselves and eventually assigned the judgment to someone else to pursue collection. Their account is their firsthand statement; the personal details above are not court findings.

Eric Brown says he worked with Hunt on two homes and seven pools beginning in late 2021. Brown says Hunt owed him about $28,000 for labor on a Rogersville spec home and did not pay him; Brown did not sue. He says Hunt later offered him Mahalo Pools to settle the debt, but Brown declined after not receiving requested financial information. Brown says Hunt also wanted him to go along with something told to homeowners that Brown knew was not true.

He says he does not blame Hunt for every problem on the project. His conclusion: "I don't think Ben Hunt can be trusted."

That is Brown's opinion based on his dealings with Hunt, not a court finding. The related lawsuit involving Hunt, 241 Builders, Brown and other contractors was dismissed before trial, with no ruling or judgment.

Other firsthand accounts on the site include Michael Smith, Dustin Campbell and Taedra King. Readers can see each person's full statement and any related records rather than relying on this summary.

Records: Firsthand accounts › · Carl and Donna Mitchell's account › · Eric Brown's account › · Boehning lawsuit ›

Then came the campaign

The business and court record existed before Hunt became a candidate for Bella Vista mayor.

What changed in 2026 was what Hunt began saying about that record.

According to NWA Xchange's account of a May 28 conversation, Hunt said there was nothing in his background people would question — "not even a speeding ticket."

Campaign donor David H. Long says Hunt told him he "was clean and had nothing bad in his background." Long says he believed him and contributed $2,000. After learning more about Hunt's history, Long publicly wrote that Hunt had "lied to my face." That is Long's characterization, not a court finding.

James Schlankey, Hunt's next-door neighbor, rode with him to file for mayor and signed his petition. "My additional signature literally put him in the race," he says. Then he read Hunt's court records. Now he urges voters to choose another candidate, calling his statement shared on our website "about me making amends for being so quick to throw my support behind Ben's mayoral campaign."

Schlankey also says Hunt's campaign named his wife, Kay, as treasurer after she had declined. Hunt's campaign finance report lists Hunt himself as treasurer. That is Schlankey's account, not a court finding.

Records: James Schlankey's account ›

Hunt has since addressed the legal history publicly. In his Sept. 7 statement, he wrote, "Did courts rule against me in some matters? Yes, and I acknowledge that." His campaign website also offers explanations for several judgments, including statements that some were satisfied by his former business partner or settled privately.

Those explanations can be compared with the court files. In the Smith pool case, for example, Hunt's campaign says the judgment was satisfied by his former business partner. But in a June 17 court filing, the Smiths stated that the judgment "has not been paid, satisfied, or released in whole or in part." They later assigned the right to collect it to that former partner. As of Sept. 28, the court record reviewed for this project showed no satisfaction filed.

Records: David H. Long's account › · Smith pool case ›

What Hunt disclosed

On Aug. 24, Hunt signed his sworn Statement of Financial Interest. He listed one creditor: a PNC Bank auto loan. He listed no judgment creditors.

At the time, Hunt had about $448,000 in outstanding judgments that made him personally responsible for payment (our calculation as of Aug. 24).

Arkansas requires candidates to report creditors they personally owe $5,000 or more when the debt remains outstanding. Arkansas Ethics Commission instructions list debts that may be omitted, including a home mortgage, credit for personal items, credit card debts and car loans. Court judgments are not on that list.

None of the creditors on these five judgments appears on Hunt's filing (why five judgments ›). Hunt has not publicly explained why they were not listed. His campaign says some judgments were satisfied by his former business partner and identifies the Volkl judgment as unpaid.

We have not identified a ruling from the Arkansas Ethics Commission on Hunt's disclosure.

The copy of his statement on file with the city also has no Section 4, the section for business interests, securities and bank accounts held by the filer or the filer's spouse. The City Clerk told us it was not turned in.

Records: Statement of Financial Interest › · No Section 4 ›

The campaign created records of its own

The questions raised by Hunt's candidacy are not limited to old business disputes.

His campaign has created a public record voters can examine for themselves.

Hunt made his 16-chapter Action Plan, or Mayor's Blueprint, a centerpiece of his campaign. On Aug. 13, he said he would release one chapter every two days for the next month. At that pace, the Blueprint should have been finished around Sept. 12–14. As of Oct. 13, he had posted 10 of the 16 chapters on his original list; the most recent was posted Sept. 28. Six had not been posted. He had also posted a chapter that was not on his original list. About 61 days had passed since Hunt's announcement — about twice the month he said it would take, and a month past the pace he set (our calculation).

Chapter 1 also describes Bella Vista as operating under a city-administrator form of government with a Board of Directors and City Administrator. Bella Vista operates under a mayor-council form.

Travis Harp, a sitting Bella Vista City Council member who ran for mayor and withdrew July 27, has not endorsed a candidate. He has stated, "I will not be voting for Ben Hunt for Bella Vista Mayor." Harp also says Hunt's plans "aren't grounded in reality" and points specifically to the wrong form of government.

There are other campaign records.

Hunt's August campaign-finance report lists $2,000 in contributions from two businesses and a family trust. It lists campaign payee addresses as "unknown" and the employer of three contributors as "Unknown." No state agency has ruled on the questions those entries raise under Arkansas campaign-finance rules.

Hunt also signed the Political Practice Pledge required of independent candidates for city office, stating that he is familiar with seven Arkansas election laws and "will in good faith comply with the provisions of the same." Signing the pledge does not by itself show that he later followed or broke those laws.

His campaign records raise separate questions about election-law requirements. Hunt's yard sign and campaign rack card do not contain the required "Paid for by" statement. No state agency has ruled on these issues.

His campaign has repeatedly used images of Hunt in Air Force uniform, including a campaign profile picture, rack card, mailed postcard and a campaign video promoting a meet-and-greet. Defense Department rules restrict political activity in uniform and the use of uniform images in campaign materials. No military authority has ruled on Hunt's campaign materials.

And on Sept. 3, Hunt's campaign called Zachary Bell's evaluation of the mayoral candidates a "fantastic and thoughtful endorsement." Bell publicly commented: "When you get a chance please remove this endorsement and this post from your campaign."

Hunt's Sept. 3 post and the link to Bell's evaluation on his campaign website were still up as of Oct. 7. Bell's comment is no longer visible. Shortly after Bell posted it, Facebook suspended his account. Bell confirmed this to Friends of Bella Vista Voters and gave permission to share it. We do not know why Facebook suspended the account.

Records: Action Plan deadline › · Chapter 1 › · Travis Harp's account › · August campaign finance report › · Report details › · "Paid for by" record › · Political Practice Pledge › · Campaign video › · The endorsement record ›

Why put it together?

No single lawsuit, statement, filing or firsthand account tells voters everything they need to know about a candidate.

That is why this site separates court findings from allegations, company debts from Hunt's personal obligations, firsthand accounts from court rulings, and unanswered questions from established facts.

It also includes information favorable to Hunt where it belongs. Two leaders in his Air National Guard squadron recommended him for First Sergeant in 2025 and praised his leadership and mentoring. Hunt has posted those letters on his campaign website.

The purpose of The Whole Picture is not to reproduce every document on one page. It is to show how the pieces fit together.

The underlying records are available throughout the site. Read as much or as little as you need. Check our work.

Records: Squadron letters ›

Know the record. Decide for yourself.

Firsthand Accounts

What people who dealt with Ben directly say happened to them.

These are accounts from customers, subcontractors, and people who worked with Ben, describing their own experiences. Each is posted with the person's written or recorded verbal consent, or quoted exactly from their own public post. Each is that person's account, not a court finding. Accounts with something good to say about Ben are included too.

People Who Know Ben Hunt

In their own words. Tap one to read the full account, with Ben's side and the sources.

Full Accounts

Tap any account to read it in full.

The Partnership: What Ben Says, and What the Record Shows

Ben says his legal problems came from his partnership with Michael Perry. In his Oct. 9 campaign video, he said the lawsuits “ultimately had my name attached to them, as well as my partner’s name.” Court records, and the people who worked with him, describe the same problems before the partnership began in 2019 and after it ended in 2021. Perry was a defendant in only one of those cases.

Before the partnership (2010–2018)

• Court records: the State of Missouri obtained judgments against Ben personally, and against his company Garnet & Company LLC, from 2010 to 2013. The state judgments ›
• Sensory Integration, 2014: Darren Smith, its CEO, says his company paid Ben’s company, Garnet and Company LLC, $72,000 toward a $150,000 pool house at the Lake of the Ozarks. He says Ben “stopped showing up and would not return any calls,” kept about $25,000 of Sensory’s equipment, and never finished the job. (Signed letter, Sept. 11, 2026) Read ›
• Aaron King, who says he has known Ben about 20 years: “he’s run so many businesses in the ground, every single one.” (Public Facebook comment) Read ›

Ben’s own company: Walston Timber Frame, LLC

• Ben formed it in January 2018. In his deposition, he agreed Perry “was not” involved with it.
• Volkl: the Volkls paid this company $14,592 for home plans in 2019 and won a judgment against it in 2021. In 2025, a court made Ben personally, and 241 Builders, responsible. Perry was not a party. Read ›
• Bekebrede: after a trial, the judge found that Ben agreed to take back the timber and refund the payment, and that “Mr. Hunt breached the oral contract.” The judgment is against Ben’s company. Perry says the Bekebrede lawsuit first named the partners’ company by mistake: “A phone call or two cleared that up, and the judgment was against Ben’s company.” Read ›

The partnership companies (2019–2021)

• Ben’s 241 Builders and Perry’s Catalyst DC each owned half of Walston Timber Frame U.S. and Professional Timber Installers (PTI). They signed a dissolution agreement Jan. 7, 2021.
• Broglen is the only customer case where Perry was a defendant with Ben. Read ›
• The partnership lawsuit: Perry sued in March 2022, and Ben countersued 42 days later. A jury found Ben and 241 Builders breached their fiduciary duty ($130,000) and found Ben liable for conversion ($32,000), both owed to PTI. The jury also found Perry liable on other claims and awarded Ben $5,000 against Perry. Read ›
• Michael Smith, who knew Ben and his work for about nine years and was an on-site supervisor at PTI: “When things got difficult, my experience was that Ben tended to make excuses, hand the problem to somebody else, or withdraw rather than confront the problem directly.” He adds: “he did not consistently keep his commitments to people, including commitments involving payment.” (Written statement) Read ›

After the partnership ended (2021 and later)

• Smith: the Smiths hired Ben, doing business as Mahalo Pools, and 241 Builders in July 2022. Judgment: $176,764 against Ben and 241 Builders. Read ›
• Mitchell: the Mitchells hired 241 Builders in October 2022. Judgment: $206,839 against 241 Builders. The Mitchells say: “Two different companies refused to walk into the structure due to unsafe construction.” Read ›
• Rost Ready Mix: an unpaid concrete bill. Judgment against 241 Builders. Read ›
• Perry was not a party to any of these three cases. He now holds the right to collect on them.
• Church By The Creek, 2021: under oath in 2023, Ben said he did no work for and made no money from customer Mark Mathes. Mathes later testified he paid Ben’s company about $65,000, for work from February to August 2021, after the partners signed their dissolution agreement. (Depositions) Read ›
• Eric Brown, builder, starting in late 2021: he worked with Ben on two homes and seven pools. He says Ben owed him about $28,000 for labor and did not pay it. “I don’t think Ben Hunt can be trusted.” Read ›
• Dustin Campbell, about 2023, Mahalo Pools: “Almost every customer of his and almost every supply house warned me to stay away from him.” Read ›
• Taedra King, Mahalo Pools customer: her pool has been “leaking and has structural damage since it was built,” and Ben told her, “you are going to be mad but I don’t live here anymore.” (Public post) Read ›
• Brian Findley, Mahalo Pools customer: “Then he Took the supplies I purchased to use for his business purposes. We talked and he agreed they were mine and I would sell them back to him, only he has never done what we agreed.” And: “He is not reliable or a man of his word.” (Facebook review, March 15, 2024; we found no lawsuit by him) Read ›

Each account is that person’s own. It is not a court finding.

In Perry’s words

• “To say the judgements have been settled or satisfied is not accurate at all… They’ve not been settled. They’ve not been satisfied.”
• “There are two types of business owners, those who will take out a high rate title loan on their vehicle to make certain paychecks are not one minute late, and the other type that sees the last money in the bank account and takes it for themself.”

Perry’s account, from a recorded interview he approved. It is not a court finding.

Ben’s side

• His lawyers wrote that Ben’s role was sales and that Perry handled “business operations, including managing employees, finances.” Perry agrees he ran operations and says the split of work “became more like 95-5.”
• Ben says he caught Perry “stealing from our company.” The jury found both men liable for conversion.
• His campaign site says some judgments were “satisfied by my previous business partner.” The papers he posts are assignments of the right to collect, and each says no satisfaction has been filed.

Read more: Perry’s account, parts 1–4 · What Ben says vs. the record · Jury verdicts in the partnership case · Smith · Mitchell · Volkl · Bekebrede · Broglen · Church By The Creek · Sensory Integration · Firsthand Accounts · Every judgment, with sources

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

Ben Hunt’s Record: The Numbers

• 27 legal cases involving Ben or companies tied to him, 2010–2026. 22 ended in judgments.
• 5 judgments against Ben personally are still owed (no record of payment): about $455,000 with interest. Smith, Volkl, Broglen, and two awards in the partnership case.
• 5 more against his companies alone are still owed: about $243,000. Mitchell, Rost Ready Mix, Bekebrede, and two owed to the State of Missouri.
• Total still owed: about $697,000. The other 12 judgments were paid.

Totals are our calculations, with interest through Nov. 3, 2026, Election Day. How we calculated ›

Collection is under way

• In 2026, the Smiths issued three garnishments against Ben, including one to his bank. Read ›
• On Oct. 15, 2026, two of his judgments were filed for registration in Benton County, Arkansas, where he lives: Smith ($176,764) and Volkl ($19,526.77 plus interest). Each filing says the judgment “remains unsatisfied.” Read ›
• In August 2026, Ben asked the courts in the Smith and Mitchell cases to pause collection. Read ›

His sworn financial disclosure

• On Aug. 24, 2026, Ben signed his Statement of Financial Interest, the sworn form candidates file with the City Clerk. It lists one creditor, an auto loan, and none of his five personal judgments. Read ›
• The copy on file with the city has no Section 4, the part for his businesses and bank accounts. The City Clerk told us it was not turned in. Read ›
• Friends of Bella Vista Voters filed a complaint with the State Board of Election Commissioners on Oct. 13. No ruling has been made. Read ›

Ben’s side

• His campaign site says some judgments were “satisfied by my previous business partner” and “settled privately.” It lists the Volkl judgment as “Unpaid.”
• In his Oct. 9 video, he said: “my personal liability is actually $45,000.”
• His campaign site explains each case. See each explanation beside the court record ›
• What he says about his business record. Read ›
• He says his legal problems came from his partnership with Michael Perry. See what the record shows ›

Read more: Every judgment, with sources · Smith · Volkl · Broglen · Partnership verdicts · Statement of Financial Interest · No Section 4 · The complaint · The Partnership

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

About Friends of Bella Vista Voters

Friends of Bella Vista Voters began when our members realized voters needed an easy way to evaluate a candidate by the public record, without opinions. Just the record, so voters could decide. We’ve broadened that work to the issues important to our city and the people Bella Vista elects.

We cover the City of Bella Vista and the Bella Vista Property Owners Association. We report what the record shows, with the source for each item linked, and leave the conclusions to voters.

What we do now

• How to vote. Dates, locations and deadlines for City elections, from official sources. 2026 Runoff Voter Guide ›
• The record. Public records on local candidates and officials, each linked to its source. 2026 mayoral race archive ›

What we’re building

Summaries of City Council and POA board meetings, linked to the official recordings; local news in one place; and plain-language briefs on the issues. Each will be added when it’s ready.

Support our work

Friends of Bella Vista Voters is funded by Bella Vista residents. Support this work ›

Who we are

I’m Marci Downing, a Bella Vista resident and the founder of Friends of Bella Vista Voters. I’m not anonymous. If we get something wrong, send us the source and we’ll correct it.

Contact: fbvv@friendsofbellavistavoters.com · PO Box 3135, Bella Vista, AR 72715

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

City of Bella Vista

2026 Runoff: Tuesday, Dec. 1

Three City races go to a runoff: Mayor, Ward 2 and Ward 3.

This guide covers City of Bella Vista races only. The sample ballot will show any other races and candidates on your ballot.

How, When & Where to Vote

Election Day, early voting, absentee deadlines and the sample ballot.

Get the details ›

The Candidates

Who’s on the ballot, with links to each candidate’s own site, finance reports and forum.

See the candidates ›

How Do the Council Candidates Compare?

On Oct. 13, the Ward 2 and Ward 3 runoff candidates answered the same six questions. Read their answers, summarized side by side. Each answer links to that moment in the forum’s YouTube video, so you can watch it for yourself.

Compare their answers ›

Campaign Filing Checks

Each candidate’s campaign finance reports, checked against the same Arkansas reporting rules.

See the checks ›

Statements of Financial Interest

What each candidate reported on their sworn Statement of Financial Interest: income, investments, offices and debts.

See the statements ›

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

‹ 2026 Runoff

How, When & Where to Vote

No matter which ward you live in, you vote in every City Council race. Council members must live in the ward they represent, but every Bella Vista voter chooses who represents each ward. Two council races are on the Dec. 1 ballot: Ward 2 and Ward 3. The Ward 1 race was decided Nov. 3 (unofficial results). Source: City of Bella Vista, City Council.

Election Day: where to vote

Polls are open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Benton County uses vote centers: any Benton County voter may vote at any vote center.

Vote centers in and near Bella Vista:

• Bella Vista Community Church (VC-1), 75 E Lancashire Dr Bella Vista, AR 72714
• Highlands Global Methodist Church (VC-2), 371 Glasgow Rd. Bella Vista, AR 72715
• Bella Vista Recreation Center (VC-3), 3 Riordan Dr Bella Vista, AR 72715
• Bella Vista Assembly of God (VC-4), 1771 Forest Hills Blvd Bella Vista, AR 72714
• Bella Vista Church of Christ (VC-5), 989 NW McNelly Rd Bentonville, AR 72712

Check your registration on VoterView ›

All Benton County vote centers

• Bella Vista Community Church (VC-1), 75 E Lancashire Dr Bella Vista, AR 72714
• Highlands Global Methodist Church (VC-2), 371 Glasgow Rd. Bella Vista, AR 72715
• Bella Vista Recreation Center (VC-3), 3 Riordan Dr Bella Vista, AR 72715
• Bella Vista Assembly of God (VC-4), 1771 Forest Hills Blvd Bella Vista, AR 72714
• Bella Vista Church of Christ (VC-5), 989 NW McNelly Rd Bentonville, AR 72712
• Bentonville Church of Christ, Activity Center (VC-6), 708 N Walton Blvd. Bentonville, AR 72712
• First Presbyterian Church (VC-7), 901 NE J Street Bentonville, AR 72712
• Bogle Family Public Services Building (VC-8), 1204 SW 14th St Bentonville, AR 72712
• First Landmark Baptist Church (VC-9), 206 SE 28th Street Bentonville, AR 72712
• NWACC - Shewmaker Center (VC-10), 1000 SE Eagles Way Bentonville, AR 72712
• Benton County Fairgrounds (VC-11), 7640 SW Regional Airport Rd Bentonville, AR 72713
• Lakeview Baptist Church (VC-12), 1351 E Lowell Ave Cave Springs, AR 72718
• Lifepoint Baptist Church (VC-13), 11161 Gamble Rd Centerton, AR 72719
• Centerton Municipal Complex (VC-14), 210 Captain Kelley Dr Centerton, AR 72719
• Decatur Municipal Building (VC-15), 310 Maple Ave Decatur, AR 72722
• Nebco Community Building (VC-16), 17823 Marshall St (Hwy 62) Garfield, AR 72732
• First Baptist Church of Gentry (VC-17), 232 W Main St Gentry, AR 72734
• Gravette Civic Center (VC-18), 401 Charlotte St SE Gravette, AR 72736
• Grace Lutheran Church (VC-19), 415 N. 6th Place Lowell, AR 72745
• First Baptist Church of Lowell (VC-20), 209-A Washington Street Lowell, AR 72745
• Discover Church Pea Ridge (VC-21), 577 Weston Street Pea Ridge, AR 72751
• The Ridge Church (VC-22), 836 N Curtis Ave Pea Ridge, AR 72751
• Boundless Grace Baptist Church (VC-23), 222 Little Flock Dr Rogers, AR 72758
• Bland Chapel (Rocky Branch) (VC-25), 8531 Twin Coves Rd Rogers, AR 72758
• Central United Methodist Church (VC-26), 2535 W New Hope Rd Rogers, AR 72756
• Centro Cristiano De Rogers (VC-27), 2121 S 1st St Rogers, AR 72758
• First Baptist Church Rogers (VC-28), 3364 W. Pleasant Grove Dr Rogers, AR 72758
• Southside Church of Christ (VC-29), 919 S Dixieland Rd Rogers, AR 72758
• Sunnyside Baptist Church (VC-30), 210 E Locust St Rogers, AR 72756
• First Baptist Church Highfill (VC-31), 11912 S Main St Siloam Spgs, AR 72761
• New Life Church (VC-32), 1611 Cheri Whitlock Drive Siloam Spgs, AR 72761
• Logan Community Building (VC-33), 15429 Logan Rd Siloam Spgs, AR 72761
• Siloam Springs Community Building (VC-34), 110 N Mt. Olive St Siloam Spgs, AR 72761
• St. Mary's Catholic Church Parish Hall (VC-35), 1998 US-412 Siloam Spgs, AR 72761
• CCO Event Center (VC-36), 4149 N. Thompson Street Springdale, AR 72764

Vote centers from Benton County’s Nov. 3, 2026 list. The Benton County Election Commission told us by phone on Nov. 6, 2026 that all general-election locations will be open Dec. 1. ID requirements (Arkansas Secretary of State) ›

Early voting: Bentonville, Rogers, Siloam Springs

Nov. 24, 25, 27 and 30, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Benton County offices only. Early voting is open only on the days listed.

• Benton County Admin Building, 215 E. Central Ave., Bentonville: Nov. 24, 25, 27, 30
• Benton County Election Commission, 1428 W. Walnut St., Rogers: Nov. 24, 25, 27, 30
• County Clerk’s Office, 707 S. Lincoln St., Siloam Springs: Nov. 24, 25, 30

No early voting on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26. The Siloam Springs office is also closed Friday, Nov. 27.

Source: Benton County Election Commission, early-voting order signed Oct. 27, 2026.

Voting absentee: deadlines

Apply for an absentee ballot

• By mail or electronically: by Tuesday, Nov. 24 (7 days before the election).
• In person, or by a designated bearer or administrator: by close of business Friday, Nov. 27. The Siloam Springs office is closed that day. A designated bearer is anyone you choose to deliver your application or ballot for you.
• By an authorized agent: by 1:30 p.m. on Election Day, Dec. 1. This is for patients of a hospital or licensed care facility; the agent must file an affidavit from the facility’s administrator.

Return your ballot

• In person or by a designated bearer: by close of business Friday, Nov. 27. The Siloam Springs office is closed that day.
• By mail: it must arrive by 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1. A postmark doesn’t count, and mail is slow over Thanksgiving week.

Sample ballot

Benton County certifies the Nov. 3 results on Nov. 13 and expects to post the runoff sample ballot the following week. We’ll link it here.

Sources: Benton County Election Commission, by phone, Nov. 6, 2026; Benton County vote-center list, Nov. 3, 2026; VoterView; Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, 2026 Election Calendar; Benton County Election Commission, early-voting order signed Oct. 27, 2026; City of Bella Vista, City Council; Arkansas Secretary of State, For Voters.

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

‹ 2026 Runoff

The Candidates

City of Bella Vista races only. For any other races on your ballot, see the sample ballot.

Based on unofficial results; Benton County certifies the results Nov. 13.

Mayor

No matter which ward you live in, you vote in every City Council race. Council members must live in the ward they represent, but every Bella Vista voter chooses who represents each ward. Two council races are on the Dec. 1 ballot: Ward 2 and Ward 3. The Ward 1 race was decided Nov. 3 (unofficial results). Source: City of Bella Vista, City Council.

City Council, Ward 2

City Council, Ward 3

Campaign Filing Checks

Each candidate’s campaign finance reports, checked against the same Arkansas reporting rules.

See the checks ›

Records on each candidate, including officeholders’ voting records, will be added as public records are received.

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Finance reports open each candidate’s profile with the Arkansas Secretary of State. Results: City of Bella Vista, unofficial results, Nov. 3, 2026.

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

Support Friends of Bella Vista Voters

Friends of Bella Vista Voters is a group of Bella Vista residents. We publish public records and voter information for the City of Bella Vista and the POA, with every item linked to its source. We are not affiliated with any candidate or campaign.

Prefer to give by check?

Make checks payable to Friends of Bella Vista Voters and mail to:
PO Box 3135
Bella Vista, AR 72715

Please include your name, address, employer and occupation.

Arkansas law requires us to report the name, address, employer and occupation of contributors. By giving, you confirm this contribution is from your own funds.

Contributions to Friends of Bella Vista Voters are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

Our Standards

Every record on this site has to meet these standards.

• Every record is a fact, not a conclusion, and links to the document it comes from. If you have a document we've missed, send it to us and we'll review it.
• We say whether a judgment is against Ben himself or against one of his companies.
• Written statements from people who have dealt with Ben are posted with their written or recorded verbal consent, or quoted from their own public posts. Public posts are quoted exactly, with the name, date, and where they were posted. All are labeled as personal accounts, not court findings.
• We don't publish home addresses, account numbers, or the names of minors.

Have Something to Share?

A record. It must be backed by a document we can see and link to, such as a court filing, a public record, or Ben's own materials. We describe records as facts, not conclusions.

A firsthand account. Your own experience doing business or working with Ben: what was agreed, what happened, when, and what it cost you. Specifics matter most: dates, amounts, promises made and kept or broken, and any documents you have, such as contracts, invoices, messages, or court papers. You may include your opinions and conclusions, but accounts built only on general impressions of Ben won't be published. We need your written or recorded verbal consent to share it.

For everything: no home addresses, account numbers, or children's names.

Send it to fbvv@friendsofbellavistavoters.com.

Found an Error?

Tell us at fbvv@friendsofbellavistavoters.com. We fix errors quickly and list every correction here.

Corrections

No corrections yet.

Questions and Answers

Answers to questions voters have asked us. We add new ones as they come in.

Why does this site only cover Ben Hunt?

Bella Vista voters can learn about the other candidates for mayor, Wendy Hughes and John Flynn, with a simple search. Each has lived in the area for more than 15 years, served on the Bella Vista City Council, and served on the boards of local organizations. Their votes, meeting records, and community work are public and easy to find.

Ben Hunt’s record is different. Most of it is in Missouri and Arkansas court files, business filings, and bank records that most voters would never find on their own. This site brings those records together in one place, with the documents attached, so voters can review them.

Is this site connected to another campaign?

No. Friends of Bella Vista Voters is registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State as an Independent Expenditure Filer. We do not coordinate with any candidate or campaign.

Who pays for this site?

Friends of Bella Vista Voters is funded mainly by its founder, Marci Downing, with contributions from members and supporters. Our spending is reported as Arkansas law requires.

How do you decide what goes on the site?

Every record has to be a fact, not a conclusion, and has to link to the document it comes from. Firsthand accounts are labeled as personal accounts, not court findings. Totals we calculated are marked as our calculations. See Our Standards.

Hunt says he personally owes about $45,000. Why do you say more than $450,000?

Both numbers come from the same court records. Hunt's figure counts only the one judgment against him alone: "approximately $45,000… my clearly individual obligation." Ours, $454,534.65 through Nov. 3, 2026 (our calculation), also counts the judgments against Hunt together with 241 Builders or other defendants. In those, the court made each defendant responsible for the full amount, so the people who won can collect all of it from Hunt.

Those personal judgments are part of a longer record. From 2010 to 2026, there were 27 legal actions involving Hunt or companies he owned or co-owned, and 22 ended in judgments. Not every judgment is against Hunt personally, and each record on this site says who it's against. We include the judgments against his companies because they show how businesses he owned or co-owned handled their obligations.

How we calculated these totals ›

Hunt says others were responsible for these judgments. Is that true?

Courts have entered five judgments against Hunt personally. His former business partner, Michael Perry, is a co-defendant in only one of them (Broglen, Arkansas, 2021). In two others, from the same 2026 trial, Perry was on the other side, and a jury ruled against Hunt. Perry was not a party to the Smith and Volkl cases.

Hunt's side: In his Sept. 7, 2026 statement, Hunt wrote, "I accept responsibility for my own decisions and my own mistakes however I do not take responsibility for the actions of others." The same jury awarded Hunt $5,000 on his claim against Perry.

See who each judgment is against in "Who was responsible?" on The Whole Picture ›

Has Ben Hunt responded?

We asked him on Oct. 13, 2026 to respond to Michael Perry's account. Where he has given an explanation, on his campaign website or in court filings, we include it with the record it concerns.

I think something is wrong, or I have a record you should see.

Email us at fbvv@friendsofbellavistavoters.com with the information or source document. We review every submission and correct the site when the record supports a change.

Complaints & Requests

Filings Friends of Bella Vista Voters has made. A complaint or request is not a finding; no agency has ruled on any of them.

Three filings, newest first. Tap one to go to it.

1 of 3 · Complaint to the Arkansas Ethics Commission

Complaint: Bella Vista mayoral candidate has no pre-election finance report on file, days before Election Day

The report would show who funded Ben Hunt’s campaign in October and how it spent the money.

A complaint is not a finding. The Ethics Commission will decide whether any violation occurred.

Read the complaint and its exhibits (PDF, redacted public copy) ›

BELLA VISTA, Ark. (Oct. 29, 2026) – Bella Vista mayoral candidate Benjamin Lewis Hunt II has no pre-election campaign finance report on file with the Arkansas Secretary of State, though the report was due Oct. 27, according to a complaint Friends of Bella Vista Voters mailed to the Arkansas Ethics Commission Oct. 28.

The pre-election report covers Oct. 1–24 and is the last look voters get at who is funding a campaign, and how it is spending, before Election Day, Nov. 3. Early voting is underway.

On July 30, Hunt signed a Benton County notice listing the pre-election report deadline. The notice states: “It is your responsibility to file the proper forms by the deadline date.” State law requires city candidates to file in the Secretary of State’s online system, where anyone can check. As of 6:30 a.m. Oct. 29, Hunt’s page there lists his August and September reports and no pre-election report.

The Ethics Commission’s 2026 reporting calendar sets the Oct. 27 deadline for opposed mayoral candidates who have raised or spent more than $5,000. Hunt has two opponents, and his reports show $15,389.70 raised through Sept. 30.

A complaint is not a finding. The Ethics Commission will decide whether any violation occurred.

The complaint also cites spending from Hunt’s primary campaign account with no reported source of funds, and vendor addresses and donor employer information missing from his September report.

This is Friends of Bella Vista Voters’ second complaint about Hunt’s filings. The first, received by the State Board of Election Commissioners Oct. 13, concerns the sworn Statement of Financial Interest Hunt signed Aug. 24. The form asks candidates to list each creditor they personally owe $5,000 or more. Court records in Missouri and Arkansas show five judgments under which he is personally liable, totaling more than $400,000 in judgments, fees and costs by Friends of Bella Vista Voters’ calculation. None is listed. The statement is also missing Section 4, the section for business holdings and bank accounts, which the City Clerk confirmed in writing was not turned in, and it was signed 14 days after the Aug. 10 deadline. That complaint also cites his August campaign finance report and his campaign signs.

Responding to the first complaint, Hunt told The Weekly Vista, “That’s called a frivolous complaint, which itself has consequences,” and said he had “already talked to the ethics commission.” The new complaint does not repeat the earlier items.

“The pre-election report exists so voters can see who is paying for a campaign before they vote,” Marci Downing, founder of Friends of Bella Vista Voters, said. “Mr. Hunt signed a notice in July that gave him the deadline. Anyone can check the Secretary of State’s website and see what has been filed. We’re asking the Ethics Commission to look at it.”

How to check

Campaign finance reports for all candidates are public at ethics-disclosures.sos.arkansas.gov. Search “Hunt” under Candidates; his filer ID is 12560. The Ethics Commission’s 2026 reporting calendars are at arkansasethics.com. See also where his campaign money came from, through Sept. 30.

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

↑ All complaints

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2 of 3 · Request to U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (Arkansas 3rd District)

Request for a congressional inquiry: Hunt’s use of uniform, rank and security clearance in his campaign

A request for an inquiry is not a finding. No agency has ruled on these questions.

On Oct. 18, 2026, Friends of Bella Vista Voters asked Rep. Womack for a congressional inquiry into how Ben Hunt uses his Air National Guard service in his campaign. The request asks his office to send three questions to Air Force and National Guard authorities for review. Copies went to the 131st Bomb Wing Inspector General and to Hunt’s January 2025 squadron commander.

• Campaigning in uniform. Defense Department rules limit how a National Guard member running for office may use uniform photos and video in campaign materials. Hunt’s campaign posted a video of him in uniform in September 2026. His rack card at the Sept. 21 candidate forum and his campaign postcard mailed about Sept. 16 use a uniform photo with no disclaimer and no statement of his Guard status. A photo of him in uniform was his campaign page’s profile picture from May 27 to Aug. 26, 2026. The request asks whether these comply with DoD Directive 1344.10.
• Using his military standing to dispute his court judgments. Court records show five judgments under which Hunt is personally liable, about $455,000 with interest (our calculation). In his Oct. 9, 2026 campaign video, Hunt told voters they are “being misled,” said “my personal liability is actually $45,000,” and offered his military status as proof: “I would not hold the rank or current position that I do in the Air Force. They just wouldn’t allow that, and I certainly wouldn’t hold the security clearance that I do.” Defense rules bar candidates from implying military endorsement. The request asks whether using his rank, position and security clearance this way violates that rule.
• Claiming to command people. At the Oct. 6 candidate forum, Hunt said, “I’ve had hundreds of people under my command,” and that he is part of his unit’s “triad” with “the commander, the command chief, and myself.” His campaign website describes him as a First Sergeant, an enlisted position. Department of the Air Force Instruction 51-509, Appointment to and Assumption of Command (Dec. 28, 2023), paragraph 3.2.2, states: “Enlisted members cannot exercise command.” (Read the instruction ›) The request asks the Air Force to confirm whether his description of his service is accurate.

This is a request for review, not a finding. No agency has ruled.

Hunt’s statements are quoted from his own campaign video, forum remarks and website.

Read the request (PDF) ›

Update: On Oct. 21, Missouri National Guard Public Affairs told Friends of Bella Vista Voters that the 131st Bomb Wing “is aware of the situation involving a unit member’s political campaign materials” and that “this matter is currently under review by the member’s command leadership.” The Guard did not name the member. No finding has been announced.

Records: Military Service & Campaign Use › · What Hunt says about his business record ›

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

↑ All complaints

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3 of 3 · Complaint to the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners

Complaint: Bella Vista mayoral candidate’s sworn disclosure omits five court judgments

10-point complaint also cites missing disclosure section, finance report and campaign materials

A complaint is not a finding. The Board will decide whether any violation occurred.

Read the complaint and its 12 exhibits (PDF, redacted public copy) ›

BELLA VISTA, Ark. (Oct. 14, 2026) – Bella Vista mayoral candidate Benjamin Lewis Hunt II listed one creditor, an auto loan, on the sworn Statement of Financial Interest he signed Aug. 24. Court records in Missouri and Arkansas show five judgments under which he is personally liable, according to a complaint the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners received Oct. 13. The judgments, fees and costs in those five total more than $400,000, by Friends of Bella Vista Voters’ calculation from the court records.

The 10-point complaint, filed by Friends of Bella Vista Voters, also says Mr. Hunt’s statement is missing Section 4, the section for business holdings and bank accounts. The City Clerk confirmed in writing that the section was not turned in. Early voting begins Oct. 19.

A complaint is not a finding. The Board will decide whether any violation occurred. Every statement in the complaint is tied to a public record or photograph. The complaint and its 12 exhibits are posted at friendsofbellavistavoters.com/complaint.

What the records show

• A required section is missing. Section 4 asks candidates to list businesses, investments and bank accounts worth more than $1,000 held by the candidate or the candidate’s spouse. The form instructs filers: “Do not leave any part of this form blank.” The City Clerk confirmed in writing on Oct. 1 that Section 4 was not turned in.
• No court judgments are listed as debts. Section 6 asks candidates to list each creditor they personally owe $5,000 or more. Of the five judgments under which Hunt is personally liable, three were entered by the end of 2025 and two in June 2026. None is listed.
• The filing was late. The Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar set Aug. 10 as the deadline for mayoral candidates in Bella Vista to file. Hunt signed his statement on Aug. 24, and the city’s records include no earlier statement.
• Campaign finance report. His August campaign finance report lists $2,000 in contributions from two businesses and a family trust. The Arkansas Constitution limits contributions to candidates to individuals, political parties and approved political action committees. The report lists the address of every business his campaign paid as “unknown.” And although the report covers Aug. 1–31, 2026, it includes an expenditure dated Aug. 26, 2024, and three contributions dated in 2025.
• No “Paid for by” line. Arkansas law requires campaign signs and literature to state who paid for them. Hunt’s yard signs and his rack card from the Sept. 21 candidate forum carry no “Paid for by” statement.

The complaint asks the Board to require complete and corrected filings, to determine whether any of the acts are criminal in nature and to refer any that are to the Attorney General. The complaint also asks that the Board refer matters outside its jurisdiction to the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

“Voters should be able to trust the sworn disclosures a candidate files,” Marci Downing, founder of Friends of Bella Vista Voters, said. “We’re not asking anyone to take our word for it. Every point in this complaint comes from a public record, and the records are posted for anyone to read. The Board will decide what it means.”

About Friends of Bella Vista Voters

Friends of Bella Vista Voters is a group of Bella Vista residents registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State as an independent expenditure filer. It does not endorse or coordinate with any candidate or campaign. Its website, friendsofbellavistavoters.com, publishes public records on mayoral candidate Ben Hunt with the source documents attached.

Media contact: Marci Downing, fbvv@friendsofbellavistavoters.com

Read the complaint (PDF) ›

In the news

The Weekly Vista, “Complaint filed against mayoral candidate,” Oct. 21, 2026 ›

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Complaint filed against Bella Vista mayoral candidate Hunt,” Oct. 24, 2026 ›

Hunt’s response, as reported: When contacted, Hunt “neither confirmed nor denied the allegations in the complaint,” according to the articles. He said he had also received an ethics complaint “of similar nature,” dated Sept. 29, from fellow mayoral candidate Wendy Hughes. “That’s called a frivolous complaint, which itself has consequences,” Hunt said. “I’ve already talked to the ethics commission. This ridiculous, wasteful pettiness comes right out of the progressive liberal playbook, so it should make every voter upset.”

Paid for by Friends of Bella Vista Voters.

↑ All complaints

About the people behind this site

Written during the 2026 mayoral race. It describes how the Ben Hunt record on this site was compiled.

Thank You

Many of the records on this site were first found by members of the community who chose to stay anonymous. We verified each one against the source documents before publishing it. We also thank NWA Xchange for its early reporting on Ben Hunt's court record.

This Site Is a Work in Progress

This website is being built and updated quickly as we review records and add source material. We have made every effort to present the information accurately and to distinguish documented facts from allegations, firsthand accounts, analysis and unanswered questions.

If you believe we have something wrong, incomplete or out of context, tell us. Send us the information or source that supports the correction. We will review it and correct the site when the record supports a change.

Our goal is not to ask you to take our word for anything. Read the record, check the sources and decide for yourself.

Email us at fbvv@friendsofbellavistavoters.com.

Contact

fbvv@friendsofbellavistavoters.com
PO Box 3135, Bella Vista, AR 72715