Tuesday’s election results indicated Karres Manning-Center and Evelyn Moorehead will have eight more months to make their case to become the next prosecuting attorney in the 11th West Circuit, which covers Jefferson and Lincoln counties.
Manning-Center, the chief deputy prosecutor under Kyle Hunter, held a slight lead over Moorehead, but neither attained the 50% to clinch the race. Manning-Center earned 3,303 of 10,098 votes, with Moorehead drawing 3,225.
Joe West, who drew the most votes in Lincoln County, had 2,718 total, while Mircha King earned 852.
“With three opponents, I knew it was going to come down to a runoff having to get 50 percent plus one,” Manning-Center said Wednesday afternoon. “I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me. I worked hard and I’m going to continue to work hard to gain the trust of the voters and show that I am the best qualified and best candidate for that office.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Because it was a nonpartisan race in a state judicial circuit, the runoff is set for Nov. 3, Election Day, while leading vote-getters from a partisan race who qualified for a runoff will prepare for the March 31 election. The winner between Manning-Center and Moorehead will succeed Hunter, a four-term prosecutor who decided not to seek reelection.
Manning-Center is counting on her ongoing experience in the prosecutor’s office to give her an advantage heading into a new campaign.
“With this type of critical position, it should be someone, I think, with some prosecutor’s experience, for sure,” she said. “Having tried violent felony cases, at least, because in order to gain the trust of the staff there — we are already shorthanded two attorneys — in that office, we have some turnover and we’ve some experience there now with myself and about three other attorneys who I’m not sure will stay in that office if Ms. Moorehead, who doesn’t have any experience, will come in because they don’t have that trust in her ability. I think the community needs to be aware that it takes experience to be able to go in the court and try these cases.”
A message seeking comment was left for Moorehead, a Yale University and University of Arkansas School of Law graduate who previously stated experience as a clerk under state Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Holt and Associate Justice Steele Hays, a paralegal instructor in the UA Continuing Education Department, law associate for John Walker and a sole practitioner, among other things.
CANNON ‘SHOCKED’ OVER BID FOR SHERIFF
Mark Cannon managed just more than a third of the vote in the Jefferson County Democratic sheriff’s primary against incumbent Lafayette Woods Jr.
“I was kind of shocked, still in disbelief because of the work I’ve done,” said Cannon, an activist who doesn’t have any formal experience in law enforcement. “I’ve had some people reach out to me and say when they voted, they didn’t see my name on the ballot, which is kind of odd.
“I’m somewhat disappointed, but it’s not over with.”
Cannon is now counting on winning a lawsuit against Woods to advance to the Nov. 3 general election against independent Chris Lowery.
Cannon is claiming Woods committed misdemeanor theft from a local Walmart as a teen in the late 1990s and should be ineligible to run for or serve as sheriff.
A trial is set for 10:30 a.m. Friday in the 2nd Division Courtroom at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Woods is running for a third four-year term.
He said at a watch party Tuesday night discussion as to whether he committed the crime is best left up to the judicial system. A record of the crime is believed to be sealed in court.
NEAL BASKS IN WARD 3 VICTORY
Watson Chapel High School Principal Jeffrey Neal has earned a first term on the Pine Bluff City Council after defeating first-term Ward 3 Councilwoman Lanette Frazier on the Democratic ticket.
Neal had 983 votes to Frazier’s 580.
Because no opponent filed in another party, Neal will succeed Frazier on Jan. 1, 2027.
“I was confident that we would have a positive outcome at the end of election night,” Neal said. “The residents of the Third Ward certainly demonstrated their confidence, so we’re appreciative of their support.”
For almost the next 10 months, Neal said his goal is to “listen and observe” so he can go into his elected role with a complete understanding of the needs of Ward 3.
He campaigned on the platform of quality of life.
“We have to find a way, and find a way quickly, to come up with solutions to increase the number of business opportunities where people want to live and come do business here. I really want to push that forward as a councilperson,” Neal said.
Frazier said she was surprised by Tuesday’s outcome.
“But guess what? I’m OK with the result,” she said. “The people have spoken. I respect their choice, and it’s not going to stop me from doing the work. A title doesn’t stop me.”
Frazier was first elected in 2023 and is known for starting a transformation of the old Bush Field on Arlington Street into a sports park for Ward 3, in addition to setting up free movie nights.
Frazier said she and architects started over with designs after the city failed to secure grants for the sports park.
“We’re redefining what we want to do with the park, and we’re going to need help with the Street Department to lay some stuff,” Frazier said.
“We came up with a gameplan, and if they’re willing to help, we can get some things done before I leave. If not, I’ll figure out something else.”