Voters decisive in local elections
While an expected runoff developed in Tuesday's primary elections in the Eighth Judicial District-North Prosecuting Attorney's race, and in the statewide U. S. Senate race, voters in Hempstead and Nevada counties were more decisive in local elections.
At the top of the ballot, Hempstead and Nevada counties went into Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter's column Tuesday in the Democrat primary for the U. S. Senate. In Hempstead County, Halter tallied 1,949 votes (52.07 percent) to 1,260 votes (33.66 percent) for incumbent U. S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, and 534 votes (14.27 percent) for D. C. Morrison. In Nevada County, Halter received 864 votes (47.45 percent) to 658 votes (36.13 percent) for Lincoln, and 299 votes (16.42 percent) for Morrison.
Statewide, Halter and Lincoln will be in a runoff on June 8.
On the Republican side of the ballot, Congressman John Boozman carried Hempstead County with 95 votes in a field of eight candidates for the Senate nomination. Based upon statewide returns Tuesday, Boozman will face the Halter-Lincoln winner in November.
And, Magnolia native and former Miss Arkansas Beth Anne Rankin tallied 174 votes to best Hot Springs businessman Glenn Gallas' 60 votes in the Hempstead County GOP primary for Congress from the Fourth Congressional District. Rankin won Nevada County with 38 votes to 35 for Gallas. Based upon unofficial districtwide returns Tuesday, Rankin received 9,586 votes to 7,719 votes for Gallas, and she will challenge Congressman Mike Ross, of Prescott, in November.
In the prosecuting attorney's race, Eighth Judicial District-North Chief Deputy Prosecutor Christi McQueen tallied 1,579 votes (41.34 percent) in Hempstead County to 1,501 votes (39.29 percent) for John Collins, and 740 votes (19.37 percent) for Mark Gunter. In Nevada County, McQueen fared better percentage-wise with 912 votes (50.19 percent) to 517 votes (28.45 percent) for Collins and 388 votes (21.35 percent) for Gunter.
McQueen and Collins will also be in a June 8 runoff.
McQueen said Tuesday that she will continue to stand on her record in the runoff.
“I have a proven record of service in the prosecuting attorney's office in this district,” she said. “I'd like to thank the voters of Hempstead and Nevada counties for the support they have shown me. I look forward to seeing and visiting with voters over the next three weeks to ask for their continued support. I'm very concerned with the welfare of these counties; it is very important to me, and I would like to continue working for the people of Hempstead and Nevada counties.”
Collins said he will work on becoming better known in both counties, having been away for a time.
“I'm very excited,” he said. “I'm in the runoff; and, I think it shows there are a large number of people in Hempstead and Nevada counties that are ready for a change. I'm just going to keep working . I've been gone for a long time, and I've been back for about a year, so it's letting people get to know me.”
Local funeral home director Ben Brazzel tallied the most votes countywide in defeating former sheriff Don Worthey in the county coroner's election. Brazzel received 2,649 votes to 1,148 for Worthey.
“ I would like to thank all the people of Hope and Hempstead County for votes, and all the people who stood behind me, my family, my wife, my parents and a special thank you to Gary and Kathy Aaron,” Brazzel said Wednesday.
Worthey also expressed his thanks to the voters.
“I have been on the most amazing journey the last several weeks in the political arena. I have met knew friends and renewed old friends and caught up with a lot of news,” he said. “It was a learining experience from the start to finish. I would like to say thanks for all the support and I still believe in a place called Hope and Hempstead County. I love and thank my wife, Doris. Thanks again for the ride and the votes.”
In the county sheriff's election, Hempstead County Sheriff's Chief Deputy James Singleton defeated former chief deputy Curtis Haines, polling 2, 281 votes to Haines' 1,517 votes.
“I guess you better be careful what you ask God for; he might give it to you,” Singleton quipped Tuesday night. “I'm speechless.”
He said after a few days rest, he will return to full time duty and begin formulating his plans for January.
“We'll hit the ground running,” Singleton said. “We've devoted a lot of time talking to the people. We've been there with the sheriff and the city, and I think people want to continue with the good, solid, professional law enforcement we have had.”
Haines said he was disappointed.
“I'm hurting,” he noted. “I'm disappointed in myself; but, I wish James the best of luck. He will make a good sheriff.”
Haines said the campaign remained clean, and “I congratulate him for that.” He said low voter turnout hurt his chances on election day.
In the final countywide race on the ballot Tuesday, Eighth Judicial District-North Circuit Clerk's Chief Deputy Gail Wolfenbarger defeated county judge's assistant Anita Tompkins. Wolfenbarger tallied 1,963 votes (52.80 percent) to 1,755 votes (47.20 percent) for Tompkins.
“I plan to serve all of Hempstead County and I want to thank everyone for their vote and support,” Wolfenbarger said Wednesday. “We have an open door policy if there is a problem, let us know and we will work with anyone and everyone.”
Tompkins was not available for comment at press time Wednesday.
In the remaining locally contested races, return candidate Jay Lathrop, of Bingen, tallied 147 votes to defeat Todd Morris, son of the late District 10 JP Randy Morris, who received 133 votes in the District 10 Quorum Court race. And, in JP District 5, incumbent Olen Dorman returned to office, handily beating Nicholas Ward with 238 votes to 92 votes for Ward.
In Nevada County local races Tuesday, Mark Glass won the Nevada County Judge's election with 1,178 votes against 329 votes for Todd Prewitt and 323 votes for Nicky McGuire; and long time Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor received 264 votes, but was decisively beaten by Terry Oliver, who polled 447 votes.
--With information contributed by Stephanie Harris-Smith, Hope Star
