CONWAY — Andy Shock, who ran with the current sheriff's endorsement, won a four-way race for the Republican nomination for Faulkner County sheriff Tuesday.
Tim Ryals, an Arkansas State Police pilot, came in second, followed by Max Young and H. Allen Smith.
Shock will face the Democrat Tommy Earnhart, who also has extensive law-enforcement experience, in November.
Complete but unofficial vote results: Shock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,147 Ryals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,625 Young. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 844 Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Shock, 38, has worked in the sheriff's office almost 14 years and has the support of current Sheriff Karl Byrd and Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland.
After celebrating his victory with about 300 supporters at the Hole in the Wall Cafe in downtown Conway, Shock said he believes that his victory shows that “the voters of Faulkner County respond to a positive campaign.” He also credited the “huge, huge team effort” by his campaign workers.
“I look forward to facing Tommy [Earnhart in November] because it’s going to be a gentleman’s campaign,” Shock said, noting the two are good friends.
“I’ve made him that promise. He’s made me that promise. We’re going to talk about the issues ... and let the voters decide,” Shock said.
During the primary campaign Shock contended he was the only one of the four candidates with “administration experience” and the only one who could offer “the guarantee of a zero learning curve.”
Ryals, 49, countered that Shock is “a nice guy” but needs more well-rounded experience - something Ryals said he had.
Ryals, who had the endorsement of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, has worked for the Arkansas State Police 22 years, the last nine as a pilot. Ryals, who served five years in the Army, also worked six years for the Saline County sheriff’s office. His wife, Wendy, is a state police officer.
Young, 66, is a retired state police trooper. He has almost 40 years of law-enforcement experience. Young had promised to spend the sheriff's office money more efficiently if he had won.
Smith, who formerly worked as a training officer at the Faulkner County jail, has more than 20 years of law-enforcement experience.
His other experience included work for the Marianna Police Department and as a deputy sheriff in West Virginia.
Arkansas, Pages 21 on 05/23/2012