The filing deadline to register for the May preferential primary ended March 1 resulting in multiple contested races across the tri-county area.
In Fulton County, three candidates filed for the position of County Judge with David Curtis, Todd Doty and Kenneth Crow filing.
The Sheriff’s race is also contested with three candidates, John Cawvey, Dallas Montgomery and Jacob Smith filing.
The following positions in county government are not contested. Vickie Bishop filed for County and Circuit Clerk; Cari Long filed for Assessor; Michalle Watkins for Collector; Steven Barker for Coroner; Brian Keen for Surveyor and Barry Abney for Treasurer.
Clay Divelbiss was the only candidate to file for constable in Township 1.
In J.P. races two candidates, Matthew Stevens and Chris Newberry filed for District 1; Justin Luther, Dennis Kiner and John Emery for District 2; Albert Roork and Joanna Defore for District 3; Gary Phillips for District 4; Robert Elliot for District 5; Marjorie Rogers for District 6; Ray Matthew for District 7; Jimmy Marler and Jackie Privett for District 8 and Carrie Andrews for District 9.
IZARD COUNTY FILINGS:
Three candidates have filed for the County Judge’s race with Eric Smith, Paul Womack and Thomas Ward entering the race.
There is also a three-way race for the position of Sheriff with Charley Melton, Mark Simino and Steven Doran filing.
Two candidates have filed for County Clerk with Joe Cooper and Debra Brown entering the race.
The following county seats are uncontested: Treasurer, Warren Sanders; Assessor Tammy Sanders; Collector Joshua Morehead and Coroner Eddie Howard.
In J.P races, Justin Sanders has filed for District 1; a three way race will take place for District 2 with Walter Hagan, Bobby Russell and Kelly Hatman each filing; Randy Sherrell has filed for District 3; Willie Moser for District 4; John David Miller for District 5; Justin Thornton and Ted Wammack have both filed for District 6; Michael Cone for District 7; Glendon Everett and Adam cooper for District 8 and Richard Emmens for District 9.
Multiple candidates have also filed for the constable races with Rusty Tate and Ty Grimes filing for GID; Michael Smith and Toby Smith filing for Jefferson; Brett Stevenson and Eric Branter for New Hope; Isaac Blankenship for Newburg; Lee Harris for Pleasant Hill; Ian Ward for Strawberry and Mark Stephen and Geoffrey Watts for Union;
SHARP COUNTY FILINGS:
Four candidates have filed for the position of Sharp County Judge with Steve Stauffer, Mark Counts, Malcom Thomas and Jeremy Langston throwing their hat in the ring.
The Sharp County Sheriff’s race is also contested with Shane Russell and Aaron Presser running.
In other county office seats, Alisa Black has filed for Clerk; Wanda Girtman and Conway Spurlock for Treasurer; Kathy Nix for Assessor; Michelle Daggett for Collector; Renee Clay-Circle and Seth Wortham for Coroner and Michael Pickering for Surveyor.
In J.P. races, Kevin Dienst has filed for District 1; Briana DiIorio for District 2; Joey Barnes for District 3; Chuck Murphy for District 4; Tommy Estes for District 5; Jackie Pickett and Everette McGuire for District 6; Buell Wilkes, Joseph Blackburn and Jason Bacon for District 7; Jeral Hastings for District 8 and Todd Price for District 9.
In Constable races, Ashton Hester has filed for District 1; George Jackson for District 2; David Gruger and Justin Scheel for District 3; Phillip Pickett and David Woods for District 4; Kelly Newcom for District 5; Isreal Hester and Luke Vander Vort for District 6; Cody Bailey for District 7; no filings for District 8 and Aaron Hunter has filed for District 9.
A three-way race will take place for House District 3 with Republican candidates Tom Bryant and Steven Painter and Independent Steve Parsons filing.
In District 23, Scott Flippo is challenged by Derek Hunter.
In District 2, Rep. Marsh Davis. Hazelle Marie Whited, Trey Steimel and Teresa Norman have filed. In House District 27, Republicans Steven Walker, Alan Yarbrough and Timmy Reid have filed. In District 28, Republicans Bart Schulz and Chris Bellar have both filed.
The filing for the May Primary ended March 1 with a high level of contested races across the state. In State Senate District 21 which encompasses a portion of Randolph, Green and Lawrence Counties as well as all of Clay County, Republicans Senator Blake Johnson and Curtis Hitt have filed along with Libertarian Alfred Jefferson Holland III.
In District 22, which encompasses all Sharp and Independence County as well as a portion of Fulton, Izard, Lawrence, and Cleburne County Republican Candidates Senator James Sturch, Representative John Payton and Ethan J. Barnes have filed.
In District 23 which encompasses a large portion of Izard and Fulton Counties, all of Baxter and Marion, a portion of Boone County, Republican Senator Scott Flippo and Democratic Candidate Derek Huber have filed.
Only one candidate has filed for District 24, Republican Senator Missy Irving. District 24 covers all of Stone County, part of Cleburne, all of Searcy, part of Newton, all Van Buren and part of Falkner County.
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