Springdale City Attorney

Jeff C. Harper
City Attorney

Jeff was elected Springdale City Attorney in 1986 and has held the position since that time. Jeff was born in Springdale and graduated from Springdale High School. He became a dispatcher at the Springdale Police Department at the age of 17 and then became a Springdale police officer at the age of 21. After serving as a police officer four years, he left the Police Department to attend law school. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He served as both an investigator and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Washington County Prosecutor's Office and was also in the private practice of law from January 1984 to January 1996, when the City Attorney's position became full time. In 1999, Jeff was the recipient of the Glenn Zimmerman Award, given each year by the Arkansas Municipal League to a person who has made outstanding contributions to municipal law. He also has had articles on municipal law published in City & Town magazine and the American Bar Association's State and Local Law News. Jeff is married and he and his wife have two children. Jeff can be contacted at jharper@springdalear.gov.

Brooke Lockhart grew up in Gentry Arkansas. She received her Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, and her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Brooke was in private practice from 1998 to 2005 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She worked as a Benton County Public Defender from 2005 until she joined the City Attorney's Office on December 11, 2006. You can contact her at blockhart@springdalear.gov.

Brooke Lockhart
Deputy City Attorney

Jonathan D. Nelson
Deputy City Attorney

Jonathan grew up in Springdale, Arkansas, and graduated from Springdale High School in 1996. From 1998 to 2001, he clerked for the City Attorney's Office. In 1999, Jonathan graduated from the Springdale Police Department's Citizens Police Academy (Class 99-A). He graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas in 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, and he then graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 2003. While in law school, Jonathan served as a member and an editor of the Arkansas Law Review. After graduating from law school in 2003, Jonathan worked for two prominent law firms in Dallas, Texas, until he joined the City Attorney's Office in January of 2011. Jonathan is licensed to practice law in Arkansas and Texas. He is the author of a published article concerning federal and state constitutional protections against cruel and/or unusual punishment. 56 Ark. L. Rev. 229 (2003). Jonathan is married, and he and his wife are the proud parents of a daughter and a son. Jonathan can be contacted at jnelson@springdalear.gov.

Taylor Samples joined the City Attorney's Office on January 20, 2011. He is a graduate of Huntsville High School, received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Taylor was in private practice from 2008 to 2010 in Huntsville, Arkansas. In 2010 he was named Legal Aid of Arkansas Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney for Madison County. Taylor is married and he and his wife still reside in Huntsville where both were raised. You can contact Taylor at tsamples@springdalear.gov.

Taylor Samples
Deputy City Attorney

Linda Brown
Hot Check Administrator

Linda Brown was the first full-time employee of the Springdale City Attorney's office, being hired to run the Hot Check Division in May, 1988. She has taken collections in the Hot Check Division from just under $40,000 the year before she started to over $231,000 in 2006. Linda can be contacted at lbrown@springdalear.gov or by calling her at 479-750-8147.

Steve Helms joined the City Attorney's Office December 30, 2009 as Investigator. Steve grew up in Berryville and is a graduate of Berryville High School and is married with four children. Steve comes to the Springdale City Attorney's Office with many years of experience in law enforcement, having retired as Chief of Police from the Rogers Police Department in January, 2009. He began his law enforcement career with the Rogers Police Department in November, 1978 where he worked the majority of his years in the uniform division, having been assigned to the traffic division and patrol division. He was also a long time member of the tactical unit and a K-9 handler. Steve is also a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy. Steve is responsible for locating and serving subpoenas on witnesses needed for court, locating and assisting the Police Department in serving Hot Check warrants, and for conducting investigations turned over to the City Attorney's Office. Steve can be contacted at shelms@springdalear.gov.

Steve Helms
Investigator

Cindy Horlick
Administrative
Legal Assistant

Cindy Horlick has been a full-time employee of the City of Springdale since January, 1996, when the City Attorney's Office became full-time. Prior to that time she acted as Administrative Legal Assistant/Secretary to Jeff Harper, while he was in his private practice of law, and joined him at City Hall when the City Attorney's position became full-time. Originally, from Mississippi, she has been a legal secretary for over 30 years, and received her paralegal certificate from the University of Arkansas Division of Continuing Education in 1994. Cindy designs the artwork and graphics for the many publications and statistical studies produced by the office. She also maintains our web page. You can contact Cindy at chorlick@springdalear.gov.

Lynda Belvedresi joined the City Attorney's Office in July, 2002, as the Victim Advocate/Case Coordinator. Lynda comes to our office after working three years as a Deputy Court Clerk for the Springdale District Court. Lynda assists the attorneys in all aspects of criminal prosecution as well as being the Victim Advocate/Case Advocate in our office. She is a Springdale native and attended the University of Arkansas. If you have any questions about the City Attorney's Office and the services it provides, please feel free to contact Lynda at any time. You may also contact her by e-mail at lengland@springdalear.gov.

Lynda Belvedresi
Victim Advocate/Case Coordinator

Dixie Putt
Receptionist

Dixie Putt joined the City Attorney's Office in September, 2002, as the Receptionist. Dixie, originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, lives in Springdale with her husband and daughter. She received an Associates Degree of Arts from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. She may be contacted at dputt@springdalear.gov.

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Last Modified: November 2, 2011