Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Mostly in November Hereabouts


The filing deadline for state and county offices has come and gone. While Benton County voters will have an entertaining two months between now and the Republican primary elections, Washington County will be rather subdued until November.

Fortress Republican on the northwestern frontier will experience the excitement of GOP primaries with five candidates for County Judge, three candidates for County Sheriff, four who are dying to be Coroner, two for Tax Collector, three contested state House seats, two contested Circuit Court positions, two for District Court, five contested JP seats, and even six races for Constable. They love them some primaries.

The May 20th Primary in Washington County will have contests between Republican Quorum Court candidates Micah Neal and David Quinn in JP District 2, and between Stacy Cavender and Joe Patterson in JP District 13. Republicans Mark Miller and Kyle Woodruff are seeking the highly coveted Constable position in District 9. There are no primary contests for Democrats.

There is a boring but very important
Non-Partisan race for the District 3 position on the Arkansas Court of Appeals at the May election. Everyone of any party or none will get to choose between Ronald Williams of Rogers and Courtney Henry of Fayetteville. More about these candidates next month.

Otherwise, Fayetteville voters will get to rest until the September school elections. The November general election will be dominated by the mayor's race between consultant Walt Eilers, Vice Mayor Lioneld Jordan, and Republican businessman Jeff Koenig. So far, there are no announced challengers for incumbent aldermen, but there will be an open seat in Ward Four to replace Jordan. There are two state legislative races, with Fayetteville's State Representative Jim House (D) being challenged by insurance salesman Gene Long (R) and Mark Martin (R-Prairie Grove) facing challenger Earl Hunton (D-Lincoln).

Washington County races will be headlined by the County Judge contest between Democrat State Representative Marilyn Edwards and Republican property rights zealot
Erval Fraley. There will be lively races for three positions on the Quorum Court. In District 1, incumbent Republican Troglodyte Tom Lundstrom is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Sharon Green. Incumbent Democrat Ann Harbison in District 12 will be opposed by Republican Robert Kenyon. The open seat in District 5, currently held by Democrat Jesse Bryant, promises to be a lopsided one between Democrat Candy Clark and Republican James Reavis.

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