The race includes two men familiar to residents of Saline County — Sam Ballard of Smith-Benton Family Funeral Home, who held the office a number of years ago, and Kevin Cleghorn, currently service as deputy coroner for the county.
Why are you running for coroner?
Ballard: "My goal for the office of Coroner is to upgrade and maintain standard qualifications and to bring back experience and education of mortuary sciences that I began with for the people of Saline County. My goal is also to maintain a logical budget for the Coroner’s office while broadening our number of deputy coroners and upgrading to appropriate vehicles from current coroner’s office’s pickup truck with camper shell.
"I will be a true fiscal conservative, and maintain administrative stewardship without any additional budget increases. The office of Coroner is a 24-hour-a day, seven days a week, nonstop position which requires good, qualified, dedicated people with education to back it up. I believe it doesn’t take more money in the budget; it takes better administration."
Cleghorn: "I have dedicated the past 24 years to serving Saline County as a volunteer firefighter, EMT, and paramedic. I have served with compassion and a passion to provide the best care possible in any given circumstance. In 2007 I was honored to become a deputy coroner for Will Bearden (current Coroner). It was not until September of 2011 that I learned the true importance of having someone there to help transition into a new era of life with the loss of a loved one, someone to put the pieces of the puzzle together and explain why they were deceased.
"The day my father passed, Will Bearden was there to do just that. When the Chief Deputy Coroner position opened, I knew I wanted to be that person to aid these families in that time of transition. With Mr. Bearden retiring from office I want to continue serving this wonderful community as their next coroner and lead the great staff that serves alongside Will and me in currently providing the best service possible, a service that is highly respected among many across Arkansas."
What qualifications, skills, or experience in your current job or work history are applicable to the position? How are they pertinent?
Ballard: "In 1979 I became founder/owner of Ballard Funeral Home. My administrative qualities, experience working with families in Saline County, education and experience in mortuary science fields go hand in hand with the office of Coroner. Over 85 percent of the Coroner offices in Arkansas are held by owners, managers, and employees of funeral homes. I have 40 years of experience in funeral service; there are no better fields that complement each other like the office of Coroner and the field of Mortuary Science.
"I’m currently General Manager of Smith-Benton Funeral Home, and therefore deal with families on a regular basis who are navigating through the difficult situation of a death."
Cleghorn: "I am a National Registered/ State Licensed Paramedic, Diplomat to American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (meaning nationally licensed forensic death investigator), Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigator sanctioned by Arkansas Children's Hospital, UAMS and the Arkansas Department of Health. These are very important qualifications when investigating the cause and manner of a death.
"Each stage of these qualifications have enabled me to communicate efficiently with other agencies and the family that has just experienced a loss in various stages of grief and to investigate any type of death in a professional and thorough manner."
What is your education level?
Ballard: "I’m a 1971 Benton High School graduate, attended University of Central Arkansas in Conway. I’m a 1975 Honor Graduate of Dallas Mortuary College in Dallas, Texas. While at Dallas Mortuary College, I was a probationary instructor for embalming classes and assistant to the Anatomy Department for Cadaver Instruction. I’m a licensed Mortuary Practitioner (mortician) and funeral director.
"This license is earned by taking a prestigious National Board Examination, which is recognized by most states in the United States. I’m a multiline licensed insurance agent which has complimented my work in the funeral business."
Cleghorn: "I am a 1988 graduate of Bryant High School; graduate of Saline Memorial EMS program in 1990 with National Registered EMT certification; graduate of Texarkana College with National Registered Paramedic certification (later became state licensure); 2012 attended St. Louis University School of Medicine Medicolegal Death Investigator Program; 2012 Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigator Course; 2013 licensed as the first Diplomat to American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators in Saline County."
Have you earned certifications pertinent to the position of coroner? If so, what are they and how are they beneficial? Are the certifications current? When were they earned?
Ballard: "I have attended numerous training sessions over the years, each which I have been certified through Arkansas State Crime Lab under supervision of the Medical Examiner, to draw toxicology from a deceased. I have also attended classes on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I was also a certified Cornea Enucleator through State Crime Lab this has now been replaced by ARORA, which harvests all organs for donation. I have attended disaster management courses as well as served as chairman of Disaster Committee of the Red Cross in Saline County under the late President of the American Red Cross, Louise Rhodes. I was part of the committee, along with local police and fire departments that designed a disaster relief course. These certifications were active in the '80s and mid-'90s, and are available each year for renewal and continuing education."
Cleghorn: "Yes, there are several certifications that were earned: 2008- Arkansas State Crime Lab Certification- currently active. 2012- Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigator Certification- currently active. 2013- Diplomat to American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators- currently active. 2014- Crime Scene First Responder for Uniformed Officer Certification- currently active.
"Each of these certifications enhances the office and the professionalism that comes with each investigation. There are no two death scenes the same. Each one is unique so therefore the investigator must be able to adjust and adapt to their findings in order to complete a thorough death investigation. That is learned through continuous educational programs and experience as a forensic death investigator."
What accomplishments in your current job or work history do you feel are an indication to the residents of Saline County that you are qualified for the job?
Ballard: "I created and established the first widow/widower support group, known as THEOS, which is active today. I’m an honor graduate of Dallas Mortuary College. I was President of the 1975 Mortuary Class and an officer of the honorary scholastic Fraternity, Zeta Theta. I was President for over 10 years of The Friends of the Arkansas Health Center, a nonprofit organization helping the needs of patients and families in the nursing facility. I was a member of the Kiwanis club, as well as on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and am currently a member of the Chambers of Benton and Bryant. I was called on annually by teachers in Benton and Bryant to explain and educate on the office of Coroner. I was a guest speaker and instructor in classes at Benton High School and Benton Middle School on the Art and History of embalming.
In the early 1990s, I, along with Rev. Andrew Toopes, founded the Chaplaincy Program to provide clergymen for death notifications. This program is still thriving today and is an important part of sheriff and police departments. During my 15 years as Coroner, I met with many grieving families to counsel and explain the situation they were going through and how the process worked. I believe my knowledge of mortuary science and accomplishments in the community allow me to provide the residents of Saline County with the care and quality of service they deserve from their Coroner’s Office."
Cleghorn: "When I took the full-time position as Chief Deputy Coroner I was able to update the computer system and establish a database to record all death reports for the office dating back to 1981. In April of 2014 I became the Director of the Saline County division of the Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review Board, which is a multi-agency task force charged by ACT 1818 of 2005 to review any deaths of children under the age of 18. This team is comprised of coroners, paramedics, detectives, prosecutors, State Police Crimes Against Children, DCFS, doctors and nurses. The Saline County team covers a six county region encompassing Saline, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson and Arkansas Counties with representatives from each county listed.
"Our first review was recently conducted on Oct. 7, 2014. As of February of 2014 I was honored to be asked to represent the Second Congressional District on the Arkansas Coroners’ Association Education Development Committee. This team coordinates and conducts training sessions around the state and is currently developing the first state-certified medicolegal death investigator course partnered with the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in Camden. The first class is scheduled to be held Nov. 17-21, 2014."
What is your perception of the major role of the coroner? What would be your focus if elected?
Ballard: "The major role of the Coroner is to respond to deaths initiated by calls from local hospital, law enforcement agencies, and at times, individuals calling for assistance from homes. The coroner’s role at this point is to respond as quickly as possible and assess what role we will have in assisting local law enforcement, hospice, doctors, families, and if necessary, the state crime lab, in the determination and proper certification of death. My focus is to bring valuable years of experience, knowledge of counseling families on procedural issues, and assure families that all agencies involved are doing their utmost best at all times, sometimes, under the worst circumstances. As Coroner, I am to be their comforting ally. My focus will be to maintain a standard of education appropriate for the office, and be fiscally responsible, and conservative, with our budget. Most importantly, I will make the needs of Saline County families my top priority."
Cleghorn: "The Office of the Coroner is charged with the task of determining the cause and manner of death by Arkansas legislation. That is the primary goal of the office however there are many more tasks that are just as important. The families left behind after the loss of a loved one is looking many times for someone to answer questions as to why the death occurred. It is the job of this office to help answer those questions when possible. Each death is different and each requires the same degree of professionalism when investigating the death. That investigation on many occasions may mean working with a multitude of agencies from emergency services to law enforcement, physicians’ office, hospital staff, funeral homes or the Arkansas State Crime Lab. My focus will always to be professional, compassionate and thorough in every aspect of the job. Another goal is to continually increase the level of professionalism through continuing education programs and eventually a full staff of certified or nationally licensed medicolegal death investigators".
Why should voters select you for the job?
Ballard: "My experience in the funeral home, my educational background, and my years of service to the community make me the best candidate for the office of coroner."
Cleghorn: "The answer is quite simple. I am currently the Chief Deputy Coroner. I am very fluent in the daily operations of the office. I have a great working relationship with all of the law enforcement and various other agencies in the county and around the state. I am certified through the state crime lab and have proven myself a thorough death investigator to the state medical examiners. My credentials alone indicate that I am the most qualified candidate for the position. I have never worked for a funeral home and therefore am unbiased as to which facility a family chooses. It is their choice and no one else to decide. Again, the answer is very clear and concise. I am the most qualified man for the job and I love serving the community that raised me."
What additional information do you feel is important for voters to determine their vote in this race?
Ballard: "The office of coroner is not all about certificates; it’s a visual, physical situation. Knowledge of the body at the time of death, and the changes that occur, is pertinent to determining the cause and time of death; which determine the appropriate actions to be taken. I have over 1,000 cases documented. I believe our budget has ballooned to an alarming amount."
Cleghorn: "From 1980 to 1995 the population of Saline County was 53,000 to 64,000 and the Coroners’ Office was a part time agency that logged 1,215 cases in that 15 year period. In 1995 an interim Coroner was appointed to office due to a vacancy until an election could be held. In 2004 it became a full time investigative agency separate from the funeral service. I joined the office part time in 2007 and full time in 2011. In the seven years that I have been associated with the office, the population of Saline County has grown to over 117,000 and is still growing and this office has logged more than 4,970 deaths. We recorded 738 deaths in 2013 and are currently nearing 550 for 2014. This office consists of two full-time personnel and five part-time deputies. Of those seven, five are certified through the State Crime Lab, five are certified infant death investigators and I am nationally licensed as stated earlier. We also have two full-time response units capable of investigating multiple deaths before returning to the office to restock supplies. This county has changed in the past thirty four years and this office has changed to meet those demands."
Ballard is the son of Vonceille Ballard and late Gene Ballard of Benton. He is the son-in-law of Elaine Lambert and the late Leonard “L.D.” Lambert of Benton. He has married to Becky Lambert Ballard for 39 years and they have two daughters; Brooke Neufer and husband Jared Neufer, Kelsey Schramko and husband Chris Schramko; and 5 grandchildren. Ballard is a member of The Church at Rock Creek, and longtime resident of Benton. The Ballard family goes back over 100 years in Saline County.