Earnest Cate

Springdale City Attorney

Ernest B. Cate is City Attorney for the City of Springdale, Arkansas. He is a native of Springdale and a graduate of Springdale High School. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in Political Science from the University of Arkansas in 1991, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in December of 1993. He was an associate in the law firm of Ball & Mourton, Ltd., and also was a sole practitioner in Springdale before joining the Springdale City Attorney's Office in 1998. He was promoted to Senior Deputy City Attorney in January of 2007. In January 2011, Governor Mike Beebe appointed Ernest to the position of Springdale District Judge, where he served until December 31, 2012. On January 1, 2013, Ernest became Springdale City Attorney, and ran unopposed for re-election in both 2014 and 2018. Ernest has gained significant experience in the areas of planning and zoning, and has been the lead attorney in several significant Arkansas Supreme Court and Arkansas Court of Appeals cases involving zoning and land use planning law. Ernest also teaches continuing legal education seminars on issues relating to zoning law, annexation law, eminent domain, and the law of easements. In addition, he is a certified law enforcement instructor and provides instruction at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA). Ernest may be reached at ecate@springdalear.gov