The next Faulkner County sheriff will be Matt Rice.
All but one member of the Quorum Court voted tonight for Rice after the county judge urged a divided group to be unanimous. Justice of the Peace Dan Thessing voted present.
Rice will succeed Andy Shock, who's leaving at month's end to be a state Parole Board member. Rice, who currently serves as the chief deputy under Shock, cannot run for the job in 2016.
The vote for Rice followed an earlier motion by Thessing to name former Sheriff Karl Byrd to the post.
See Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.