Elect Deb Wemette
Deb Wemette
A Proven Record of Accountability and Community Service
Long before running to serve as your Mayor in Hot Springs, Arkansas, I spent years on the frontlines of grassroots community oversight and fiscal advocacy. My approach to local government has always been simple: look at the numbers, demand full transparency, and ensure that every single dollar—whether public tax revenue or charitable donations—directly benefits the community.
Hands-On Local Oversight: Advising the County on Funding
Over 20 years ago in Osceola County, Florida, I didn't just talk about accountability—I rolled up my sleeves and put it into practice. I served directly on the local volunteer citizen panels managed through the Heart of Florida United Way, which acted as a vital advisory body to the county government.
Advising County Expenditures:
Our primary responsibility was advising the county government on exactly how to allocate public funds and community grants to local human-services nonprofits.
Rigorous Financial Auditing:
I meticulously reviewed structural budgets, administrative overhead, and tax records to ensure organizations requesting public and charitable support were fiscally sound.
Direct Community Impact:
I conducted on-site evaluations and program interviews to verify that funds were actively delivering measurable, positive results to families in need.
Protecting Infrastructure:
I served on the Citizens Advisory Board for stormwater runoff.
Deb Wemette
Ready to Give Back
Building a successful, thriving business for almost twenty years, requires immense time, focus, and hard work. For years, running Churchill's Fine Cigars successfully meant my availability for deep community volunteerism was limited.
But today, things are different. Because of that hard-earned business success, I have officially hired a dedicated team member to handle the day-to-day operations of my business. I didn't do this to step back—I did this to step *up*. By securing my business's operations, I have cleared my schedule to make myself completely available to Hot Springs. I am fully prepared to dedicate my full time, energy, and business expertise to serving this community as your full-time Mayor.
My lifetime of work including, advising local spending, analyzing infrastructure, and protecting small business interests is exactly why I am running for Mayor. Local government belongs to the people, not the special interests. As your Mayor, I will bring this exact same level of financial scrutiny, grassroots dedication, and complete transparency to ensure absolute accountability for every city decision.
Fresh Eyes.
Fresh Perspective.
True Citizen Leadership:
This vital advisory service taught me exactly how to identify waste, track spending metrics, and prioritize community needs over administrative bloat.
Driven by the People:
Despite the overwhelming financial disadvantage, our message of transparency resonated deeply with the community. I secured 33,564 votes in the general runoff, capturing 48.2% of the vote and coming within a razor-thin margin of victory. Across both the primary and general campaigns, voters cast nearly 40,000 total votes for my grassroots vision.
Outspent 36-to-1:
My opponent poured immense financial resources into the race, outspending my grassroots campaign by a massive 36-to-1 ratio using heavy personal loans.
The Ultimate Underdog: Running for Osceola County School Board
My commitment to public accountability eventually led me to run for the Osceola County School Board (District 2) in 2004. Going head-to-head against an entrenched opponent, Thomas Chalifoux, my campaign became a legendary local example of true grassroots strength vs. big political spending.
Standing Up for the Taxpayer:
Leading "Ax the Tax Osceola"
In the early 2000s, my dedication to financial transparency led me to serve as the Chairwoman of Ax the Tax Osceola. As a prominent, high-visibility grassroots advocate for no new taxes and using the tax money we have.
Supporting Local Economy:
I served on the board for our local farmers market.
Deep Roots and Proven Leadership in Hot Springs
For nearly 20 years, I have been proud to call Hot Springs my home, operating Churchill's Fine Cigars as a local small business owner. When I first moved here, I immediately dove into serving our community to make Hot Springs a better place to live and work.
