Chris Clifton, former chair of the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission who resigned that position under pressure in June 2024, briefly alluded to his departure during a candidate forum hosted by the Carroll County Republican Committee on Thursday, Jan. 22, in Berryville.

Clifton, who is running as a Republican candidate for the District 2 Justice of the Peace position on the Carroll County Quorum Court, noted during his opening remarks that he served on advertising and promotion commissions in Bentonville and Rogers.

“I served on the CAPC in Eureka,” Clifton said. “I was told not to. You may know why.”

Later, in responding to a question about whether he had previously held any positions in state or county government, Clifton again referred to his experience on the CAPC.

“We did things different than what they’re used to,” he said.

Clifton resigned from the CAPC on June 27, 2024, the day after residents speaking during public comments at a commission meeting, repeatedly asked Clifton to step down because of his stance on a “Free to Be” city marketing campaign, the culmination of a monthslong controversy surrounding the commission under Clifton’s chairmanship. At that same meeting, a vote of confidence in Clifton failed 4-1. The only commissioner to vote yes on that motion, Chris Jones, also resigned the next day.