LITTLE ROCK — Only one of the three incumbent Pulaski County justices of the peace was ahead of his challenger in their respective primary contests Tuesday night.
Bob Johnson of Jacksonville, shooting for his fifth two-year term, retained a slim lead over Republican primary challenger Jim Stanley of Cabot in his race to keep the District 11 seat.
The unofficial results were: Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575 Stanley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .530
The number of precincts reporting was unavailable at press time.
Wilma Walker of College Station narrowly led in her challenge to first-term Justice Judy Green of Little Rock for the District 9 seat in the Democratic primary.
The unofficial results were: Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .749 Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 741
Karilyn Brown of Sherwood also vaulted to an early lead in her bid to unseat Jeff Rollins, also of Sherwood, for the District 12 seat in the Republican primary.
The unofficial results were: Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .768 Rollins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646
The Pulaski County Quorum Court also featured candidates vying for an open seat.
Lillie McMullen of Little Rock jumped to a lead over Mary “Jill” Kennedy of Little Rock to be the Democratic nominee for District 5 on the Quorum Court. A third candidate, Terri Hollingsworth, withdrew from the race, but her name was still on ballot.
The unofficial results were: McMullen. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,242 Hollingsworth. . . . . . . . . . 749 Kennedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
The Quorum Court passes ordinances and makes budget and policy decisions for county government. Its members are paid $11,106 a year and can enroll in the county’s health insurance plan for employees.
Johnson, 58, an accountant, was facing his first opponent since he was elected to the Pulaski County Quorum Court in 2004. His position represents an area covering the northeastern part of the county, including much of Jacksonville. Stanley, 62, a retired Army colonel and former pastor, lives north of Jacksonville and owns a real estate company in Cabot.
Johnson had said he wanted to build on his accomplishments from his first four terms as a justice of the peace. Those accomplishments, he said, include pushing for measures that have improved the county’s budgeting. Stanley, saying he was more conservative than Johnson, had promised to go further.
“It was a very interesting and hard race, and a close race,” Johnson said. “I’m really honored to be able to [have the chance] to continue to serve the citizens of Jacksonville and northeastern Pulaski County.”
He faces Democrat Suzette McNeely of Jacksonville in the November general election.
Green, 71, a Democrat, was seeking a second two-year term. Walker, 74, is a former state representative who served from 1997 to 2002. Both cited their extensive service on behalf of the broader community. The winner has no opponent in the general election.
Rollins, 51, a lifelong resident of Sherwood, has held his Quorum Court position for a dozen years. Brown, 64, has lived in Sherwood for 27 years. Brown criticized the incumbent for not being able to attend budget-committee meetings. Rollins has said he served on the committee for 10 years but after he took a new job in 2011, it didn’t fit his schedule.
The winner faces Independent James George, also of Sherwood, in the fall.
McMullen, 59, a divorced mother of two and a certified school psychology specialist with the Little Rock School District, had lost two years earlier in a bid to unseat incumbent Wilandra Dean, who decided not to seek re-election this year. Kennedy, 31, is a mother of one and married to Jason Kennedy, the assistant chief deputy clerk for Pulaski County. She works as a corporate trainer.
McMullen, who appeared to avoid a runoff election with Hollingsworth, faces Republican Dante’ L. Shelton in the general election.
Arkansas, Pages 19 on 05/23/2012