Voters in Jefferson County will head back to the polls on March 31 for a runoff election to decide the next county judge candidate on the Democratic ticket, pitting incumbent Gerald Robinson against challenger Efrem Neely.
The race for the county’s top administrative post was forced into a second round after the initial primary election results, which both candidates interpret as a sign of the electorate’s will. Under Arkansas law, since no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, a runoff is expected.
Unofficial returns were:
Efrem B. Neely Sr……………….2,076
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Gerald Robinson…………………1,776
“I feel that the people of Jefferson County have spoken,” said Neely. “I was blessed enough to receive the most amount of votes … That election shows that Jefferson County is ready for a new administration.”
Robinson expressed disappointment in the initial turnout.
“Normally, we would probably have had about 3,800 more people vote in a primary election, and that didn’t happen,” he said.
Despite this, Robinson remains confident and is already strategizing for the coming weeks. “My strategies (are) to hit those areas and try to get more people out to the polls and to get people to come back to the polls,” he said.
Both candidates acknowledge that low voter turnout has been a historical hurdle in runoff elections. Neely noted the challenge of getting voters back out, but believes the momentum for change will prevail.
“I personally believe that in this county judge’s runoff, that even though we may not get as many people as we’ve always gotten, I think that things are in such a turmoil, people will come back on this runoff,” he said.
Neely’s plan leading up to March 31 is to intensify his current efforts. He said the strongest thing he had going for him was “boots on the ground” contact in person through literature and media. Neely concluded by stressing his commitment to the citizens: “I’m here to ensure that the citizens of Jefferson County are taken care of.”
Robinson is focusing his message on his administration’s accomplishments and future projects. He is running on a record that he claims “brought the county from being in the red to the black” by using casino revenues to increase and balance the county’s budget.
He listed several key achievements and plans:
Fiscal responsibility: Increasing revenues and providing two raises in one year and bonuses for employees for three years in a row.
Infrastructure: Building new facilities for the Health Department, Veterans Affairs and coroner’s office, along with the remodeling of the courthouse.
Economic development: Current work on solar farm projects that will create construction jobs and 10 to 15 permanent jobs, and tire-recycling opportunities are expected to generate substantial revenue via a product called carbon black.
“I still believe in the people of Jefferson County, and I’m still looking forward to serving the people of Jefferson County,” said Robinson. “I’m the man to get it done.”