Early voting for the Democratic and Republican Party primaries begins Monday at the Jefferson County Courthouse and will continue for two weeks prior to the actual primary election May 22.
Voters wanting to cast their ballots early should go to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will also be two Saturdays for people who can’t get to the clerk’s office during the week. On Saturday, May 12 and Saturday, May 19, the clerk’s office will be open from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.
On the Democratic side, voters will select a candidate for president, and for two of the state’s four congressional districts, while Republican voters will also select a presidential candidate, and a candidate for congress.
Congressional races
Prior to this year, Jefferson County was located in the 4th Congressional District, but because of redistricting, some voters, particularly those on the north side of the river, will have to vote for a candidate to oppose current 1st District Congressman Republican Rick Crawford, who is unopposed for his party’s nomination.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Three Democrats are seeking to unseat Crawford — Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington, Gary Latanich and Clark M. Hall.
With current 4th District Congressman Mike Ross, Democrat-Prescott, deciding not to run for another term, voters in that party’s primary will select one of three candidates vying for the job. They are state Senator Gene Jeffress, Q. Byrum Hurst, and D.C. Morrison.
Three Republicans are also seeking the seat and their names will appear on the Republican Party primary ballot. The candidates are Tom Cotton, Beth Anne Rankin and John Cowart.
State senate
Two positions with local ties in the Arkansas State Senate are also up for grabs this year.
Senate District 25 pits current state Sen. Stephanie Flowers against state Rep. Efrem Elliott. Both are Democrats and the winner will face no Republican opposition this fall.
In Senate District 27, Democrats Rep. Gary L. Smith and Rep. Bobby J. Pierce are seeking their party’s nomination. The winner will face Republican Henry L. Frisby II in November.
State House of Representatives
The names of three candidates will appear on the Democratic Party primary ballot for District 10 of the state House of Representatives. They are Jefferson County Judge Mike Holcomb, Star City Mayor Gene Yarbrough, and Dorothy A. Hall of Sheridan. The winner will take on Republican Charles Roberts, who is unopposed for his party’s nomination.
Democrats state Rep. Henry “Hank” Wilkins IV in District 17, Rep. James L. Word in District 16, Charles Tadlock in District 15 and Walls McCrary in District 14 did not draw opponents in the primary, but Tadlock will have to run against Republican Ken Bragg in November for the seat.
County races
In county government, the office of county judge which is being vacated by Holcomb drew three candidates in the Democratic primary. They are former Pine Bluff mayor Dutch King, Pine Bluff Assistant Chief of Police Ivan Whitfield and Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll. The winner of that race will face Justice of the Peace Republican Ted Harden in November. Harden is also a candidate for re-election to District 12 of the Quorum Court and has no opposition in that race.
Six incumbent Justices of the Peace, all Democrats, drew opponents in the party primary. They are as follows:
• District 1 — Garland Trice and Morris Caldwell, seeking the seat being vacated by Carroll.
• District 2 — Incumbent the Rev. H. O. Gray is being challenged by Reginald Adams.
• District 3 — Incumbent Delton L.Wright is opposed by Reginald Johnson.
• District 4 — Incumbent Mandy Alford is facing Glen Brown Jr.
• District 7 — Incumbent Vannette W. Johnson is opposed by Porter Jackson III.
• District 13 — Incumbent Edward Spears is being challenged by Dale Davis.
None of those positions drew Republican opposition.
District 5 Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin, District 6 Justice of the Peace Dr. Herman Ginger, District 9 Justice of the Peace Paul Jones and District 11 Justice of the Peace Sissy Granderson are unopposed in their bids for reelection to the Quorum Court. All are Democrats.
In addition to Harden, District 10 Justice of the Peace Dr. Conley Byrd, also a Republican, drew no opposition either from their party or from a Democratic challenger.
In District 8, Democrat Verdell Baker drew no primary opposition but will face Republican Roy Agee Sr. in November. That seat was held by Democrat Cleddie Shock, who died recently.
Judicial race
Voters will also select a candidate for the Arkansas State Supreme Court in the non-partisan Judicial General Election which coincides with the party primaries.
Raymond Abramson and Judge Jo Hart are both seeking that seat.
Constables
Several contested Constable races, all involving Democratic candidates, will appear on the ballot as well. The townships and constable candidates include:
Dunnington Township — Democrats Teresa Sloan and Otho Eddie Anderson
Plum Bayou Township — Democrats Merlin Laws and K.W. Hertzog; the winner will face GOP Harvey Harrington in November.
Vaugine Township — Democrats DeShawn Bennett, Jody O’Mary, Johnathan Fallis, and Bryan Beasley.
Pension fund special elelction
Also on May 22, Pine Bluff voters will be asked to vote in a special election to increase the millage rate for the pension funds of retired police officers and firefighters. Supporters say the proposal would increase the millage to support the pension funds by two one-hundredths of a cent for each fund, raising the rate to one mill.