About Me

My name is Mark Toth.  I am running for Position One on the Hot Springs Board of Directors, the seat currently held by Erin Holliday.  I have resided in Hot Springs for the past 31 years.

Several friends and members of the community, knowing my background and experience, encouraged me to run.

For many years, I have been an engaged citizen-participant on many different issues affecting Hot Springs, organizing and supporting various groups and causes but never holding elective office.  I was a District Captain for the “Save Our City Campaign” (which successfully defeated a proposal to replace the current unpaid Hot Springs City Board of Directors with thirteen paid politicians).  I was an active supporter of the City’s “Thermal Basin Fire District,” which tightened vacant structure regulations which have spurred economic revitalization in downtown Hot Springs.  I was an an early and vocal supporter of the expansion of the MLK Bypass over to the Highway 5/7 junction in Fountain Lake, which has reduced traffic on Park Avenue and Central Avenue through downtown.  I also was a supporter of the sales tax to construct and maintain the new Garland County Jail.   I opposed efforts to remove public disclosure rules regarding the Board of Directors’ out-of-state travel expenses.  I was a member of the committee that developed the city's "Complete Streets" policy, which has repaired and paved sidewalks throughout District One.  And most recently, I have voiced opposition to several elements in the the proposed new zoning code, including the proposal to allow mobile homes on any residential lot without restrictions (Director Holliday has remained silent on this issue).

I became an vocal advocate on these issues largely because I was elected president of my neighborhood association.  I live in the Whittington Valley, a residential neighborhood in District One northwest of downtown.  When I first became president of my neighborhood association, the Whittington Valley was known as the neighborhood of “No”—its residents flatly rejecting any suggestion of change.  However, over time we have learned the benefits of actively seeking partnerships to improve our neighborhood and our city, while also keeping a wary eye against projects that would undermine the safety and quiet enjoyment we expect in our residential community.   We discovered that by speaking out together, we could bring about positive change.

For example, together we successfully fought against a proposal to open a 48-bed halfway house for convicted felons next to one of our neighborhood parks—even though current District One Director Erin Holliday twice voted in favor of the project. 

Working together we have obtained grants totaling more than $1 million to improve our neighborhood.  These grants have allowed us to install new baseball dugouts, new playground equipment and new public restrooms in Baseball Trail Park, one of our neighborhood parks.  Similar improvements have been made in the Valley's Linden Park.  And our efforts along Whittington Avenue (which are still ongoing) have repaired sidewalks, repaved the roadway and put in place roadway improvements which allow cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles to safely share the road.

Working together with the city we have cleared blighted buildings from our neighborhood.   While demolishing such structures sometimes sparked contentious debate, working together we came to recognize that unsafe, hazardous structures in serious disrepair sometimes have to be cleared.

And together we supported several redevelopment projects in the Valley.  These include the construction of the new Roanoke Baptist Church, supporting the expansion of the Valley's Arkansas Alligator Farm and the rehabilitation of an abandoned nursing home into a senior living facility.  And soon Garland County Habitat for Humanity will begin construction of a new house in the Whittington Valley; and once complete, we will welcome a new family into our community.

I am also an active member of the Gateway Community Association and the Park Avenue Community Association.  From these organizations I have learned that when people come together to improve their neighborhood, friendship are formed and there is a palpable passion to aid each other.

As president of my Neighborhood Association, I am often the public face of my neighborhood.  I am humbly aware that our successes are very much the product of many Valley residents who have shared their ideas, energy and labor but who prefer to remain behind the scenes.  During my tenure, I have learned many lessons, including the importance of bringing people together to share ideas.  Leadership begins by listening; and only once you find common ground can you work to implement solutions.  

- Mark A. Toth

Candidate, Hot Springs Board of Directors, District One

Phone: (501) 802-4130

Email: markatoth@yahoo.com

P.O. Box 1661, Hot Springs, AR  71902-1661