LITTLE ROCK — The small-town Arkansas mayor who said he didn't care if he got reelected earned nearly 70 percent of the vote in Tuesday's runoff.
Pangburn Mayor James Williams last week told The Daily Citizen he entered the race only to prevent two of his three opponents from claiming the office. But both of those candidates were eliminated in the Nov. 2 general election, and Williams said he didn't care if voters picked him or police chief Harold Glenn in Tuesday's runoff vote.
Reached Wednesday morning, Williams blamed the media for being negative and "using (him) as a scapegoat."
He suggested the vote total - 123 for him to 57 for Glenn - showed the town with a population of about 650 people knows he does care about being its leader.
"I think that pretty well set the record straight," he said. "I got nearly 70 percent of the vote."
Asked to explain what was set straight, Williams said he wouldn't speak about it to a reporter.
"I've already talked to the people of Pangburn," he said just before declining further comment. "They knew how I felt."