Mayor Belinda LaForce was elected to a four year term on November 2002, after serving as City Clerk-Treasurer for 16 years, finance officer as 8 years and in a clerical position for 2 years - Employment began with the City in 1976 when Searcy was a much smaller town atmosphere with only a 9,800 population. During the entire 32 years of service, Mayor LaForce has seen tremendous changes in leadership, having served along side five different Mayors, and many City Council members, department directors and employees, as well as physical and economic growth of the city and city services.

Born in Searcy, Arkansas, graduated from Searcy High School, and attended the University of Central Arkansas at Conway. Belinda married Dwayne LaForce, also born in Searcy, in 1977. Dwayne and Belinda have two children both married. Son, Matt and wife, Fran and their son, Cannon reside in Searcy. Daughter, Lauren and husband Robb Brown reside in Bentonville, Arkansas.

During her 32 years in Searcy Municipal Government, Mayor LaForce has taken numerous opportunities to enhance her education in related government operations and functions. She is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Institute, Competed several courses from the Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock including the Mid-South Basic Economic Development Course and the Retail Development and Analysis Course. Completed the National League of Cities Leadership Training Institute “The Price of Government: Budgeting for Outcomes”. Graduated from the Searcy Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute, achieved the status of Certified Municipal Clerk from U of A - Fayetteville and many other seminars and workshops pertaining to issues concerning local government, law, and implementation of services and leadership skills and training.

Mayor LaForce has served in various leadership roles in government affiliations such as

• Vice-Pres. of District 2 Arkansas Municipal League Executive Committee 2003-04 www.arml.org
• Current Executive Board member of Arkansas Municipal League
• Past member of Arkansas Municipal League’s Large First Class City Advisory Council

AGENCY PROFILE: The Arkansas Municipal League (AML) provides a forum through which local officials may assist each other in the solution of municipal problems and express their common concerns to the state and federal officials. The central purpose of the AML is to advance the interest and welfare of the people residing in the cities and towns in Arkansas. To accomplish this, the League carries on a broad program of research, information, technical assistance and legislative activity to increase the capability of local governments to meet complex municipal problems. The AML is governed by a board of Municipal Officials.

• Executive Board member of Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Executive Board member of Searcy Regional Economic Development Corporation
• Executive Board member of Metro Little Rock Regional Alliance www.metrolittlerockalliance.com

AGENCY PROFILE: The mission of the Metro Little Rock Alliance (MLRA) is to cultivate regional growth and prosperity throughout the area by marketing the region’s strengths and advantages to prospective companies and site location consultants for the purpose of attracting investment and creating jobs. Board members represent each of the eleven counties within a 50 mile radius of our State’s Capitol consisting of over one million in population.

• Chairman of the MLRA Quality of Life Committee
• Executive Board member and Secretary of White River Planning and Development District, Inc. www.wrpdd.org

AGENCY PROFILE: WRPDD is a private, non-profit organization established by the Arkansas Legislature in 1967 to spur economic and community growth within the White River District. It is one of eight Planning & Development Districts established to efficiently utilize scarce economic resources across a multi-county region and to provide a better standard of living through coordinated economic planning. The primary mission of the White River Planning & Development District is to: provide planning services, assist local governments in obtaining and administering state and federal grant funds, and to coordinate multi-county economic and community development efforts. WRPDD is governed by a 33-member board of directors consisting of local elected officials, business representatives and private citizens. Board members represent each of the 10 counties and most of the larger cities within the District.

• Executive Board member of White River Regional Solid Waste District, Inc. www.adeq.state.ar.us/solwaste/regional_boards_sql.asp

AGENCY PROFILE: WRPDD serves as the administrative staff to the White River Regional Solid Waste Management Board (WRRSWD). The White River Regional Solid Waste Management Board oversees a number of programs that are funded through the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and others. The WRRSWD operates the following District-wide Solid Waste/Recycling programs:
1) Waste Tire Recycling Program
2) Solid Waste Planning & Regulatory Assistance
3) Waste Hauler Licensing
4) Solid Waste Management & Recycling Grant Programs
5) Recycling & Anti-Littering Education and Technical Assistance

• Board member and VP of White River Regional Management Corporation
• Executive Board member of Arkansas Public Entities Risk Management

AGENCY PROFILE: The Arkansas Public Entities Risk Management Association (APERMA) was organized in 1985 for the purpose of jointly providing casualty and property protection as a group self-insurer pursuant to the laws and regulations of the State of Arkansas as a group of cities, counties and other governmental entities. APERMA provides public entity risk pool coverage in the following areas: Building and Contents Program, Vehicle Liability and Physical Damage, and General Liability Program. The Board of Directors provides financial review of the risk pool, reviews loss experience and exposures, approves costs and program recommendations and coverage, and reviews loss fund analysis and projections. The APERMA board is made up of elected and other officials of member entities of the State of Arkansas.

Other Affiliations:

• Past member of Arkansas City Clerks, Recorders & Treasurers Association
• Past member of Arkansas Governmental Finance Officers Association
• Member of White County Local Emergency Preparedness Commission
• Founding board member of White County Community Foundation
• Former Board member and Allocations Chairman for United Way of White County
• Member of White County Local Food and Shelter Committee
• Former member of White County Extension Service Board

Honors and Community Affiliations:

• Adrian White Municipal Leadership Award June 2005 – 6 years service to Arkansas Cities
• Member in good standing with Searcy Rotary Club
• White County Democratic Club
• White County – Searcy Arts Council
• Member of First Baptist Church – served the last 21 years as church organist
• Member of Searcy Beethoven Club, past Treasurer
• Performing Arts – Actor at both the Center on the Square for Performing Arts and Searcy Summer Dinner Theater at Harding University
• Member of First Baptist Church Jubilation Bells hand bell Choir

Hobbies include: Piano, organ, Creative Writing, playing golf and home improvement projects