Neal suspends county judge campaign, sends Republicans scrambling

 Micah Neal
Micah Neal

FAYETTEVILLE -- Washington County Republicans are scrabbling to find a replacement for state Rep. Micah S. Neal, who said Thursday he was dropping out of the race for county judge. Democrats are preparing to fight any attempt to nominate another candidate.

"We had no warning that this was coming," said Lance Johnson, county Republican Committee chairman.

By the Code

If the person who received the majority of votes during the preferential primary election or general primary election cannot accept the nomination dies, has a serious illness, moves out of the area from which the person was elected as the party’snominee or files for another office before the final date of certification, then a vacancy in nomination has been created. In that case, the state committee of the political party shall notify the governor within five days whether the party chooses to fill the vacancy in nomination at a special election or a convention.

Source: Arkansas Code Arkansas Code section 7-1-101 and 7-7-104; Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office

Web Watch

More information on Micah S. Neal can be found on his Arkansas House of Representatives profile at www.arkansashouse.o…

Neal, a Republican and owner of Neal's Cafe in Springdale, announced Thursday night he plans to leave the county judge race because of family and business-related reasons.

He then cited plans to move to Benton County on both his personal and campaign Facebook accounts.

On Friday afternoon, Neal posted on social media he's "suspending my campaign." A website supporting Neal's campaign also has been removed. He said his decision to leave the race wasn't made lightly.

"It's been a long decision that I've tried to work out with my family, and it just hasn't worked out," Neal wrote. "I will be moving to north Springdale in Benton County. I'll drop off a statement with the county clerk in the next week or so."

Neal hasn't yet filed a statement with the County Clerk's Office to officially drop out of the race, said Becky Lewallen, county clerk. That notarized statement would make his withdrawal official, said Tim Humphries, State Board of Election Commissioners legal council.

Neal also hasn't filed campaign contribution and finance records. The records weren't at the courthouse Friday, but Neal said in a message he would file them next week.

"The money will be returned to the donors," Neal said.

Democrats are waiting for the official letter on Neal's departure from the race, said Tyler Clark, chairman of the Washington County Democrats. That letter could shine light on whether a nominee can replace him on the November general election ballot, he said.

Arkansas Code 7-7-104 says a party can nominate or have a special election to fill a vacated ballot position if the withdrawing candidate: dies, has a serious illness, moves out of the area or files for another position.

Clark said Neal's initial reasons for leaving -- family and business -- don't qualify Republicans to elect a new nominee according to the law. At noon Friday, Neal wrote on Facebook he "will return to the private sector. This is a business decision that I've reached with my family. I will be moving and unable to fulfill the requirements of the office."

Clark said if Neal filed a statement contradicting what he initially said, Democrats would contest the Republican attempt to nominate a new candidate. Johnson said he believes Republicans can nominate another candidate based on state law, but officials are still determining the procedure.

Johnson didn't have any names of potential nominees Friday. Neal said in a message he didn't have anyone he supported as a replacement.

Washington County officials said Friday they are unsure whether state law allows someone to run in Neal's place.

County Attorney Steve Zega was on vacation. When reached by cell phone, Zega said he wasn't sure yet about the law and referred questions to the Arkansas Secretary of State.

Secretary of State spokesman Chris Powell said in emails he couldn't say what options either party might want to pursue. No one had called the state office Friday about Neal withdrawing from the race, Powell said.

"I cannot speak for what options either party may wish to pursue," said Powell and referred questions back to Zega. "Mr. Neal's withdrawal from the race would need to be in compliance with the law and depending on those circumstances, a determination would need to be made whether a vacancy in nomination existed."

Neal announced last year his intention not to run for a third term as state representative for District 89 and to seek the county's top administrative position. He ran unopposed during the Republican primary election this past March and was expected to face Fayetteville Alderman Mark Kinion, a Democrat, in the general election.

Neal had county government experience and was a justice of the peace before becoming a state lawmaker.

Should Neal go ahead and submit an official statement, his name would be removed from the ballot before it is certified in August. The filing period for a write-in candidate or independent candidate passed this past November, Lewallen said.

"Without a Republican nomination, it's possible Kinion could be the only eligible candidate on the ballot," Election Commission Coordinator Jennifer Price said.

NW News on 07/02/2016

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