TEXARKANA -- Cathy Hardin Harrison on Tuesday became Miller County's first elected female county judge.
Allen Brown became Texarkana's new mayor.
Both ran uncontested and won their races in November.
Harrison received 2,633 votes to then-County Judge Roy John McNatt's 2,064 votes in the May Republican primary and had no Democratic challenger in the general election. Harrison previously was the county's tax collector.
As tax collector, Harrison upgraded all software and made all information available online. She created the investigative collector position that has recovered more than $900,000 in delinquent taxes and initiated the Rave Panic Button for security at the Miller County Courthouse.
In her campaign, she pledged transparency, citizen participation and maximum use of tax dollars.
Harrison also said she plans to automate the county judge's office with the technology to move the county forward.
Brown was in a contested race until incumbent Ruth Penney-Bell -- the city's first female mayor -- withdrew in late July.
"I am very humbled to be the next mayor of Texarkana. I look forward to learning the city challenges and needs in order to move our city forward," Brown said.
As for the challenges ahead, Brown said, "Economic development is important to proactively address, as well as working hard to help grow and retain our current businesses."
Brown is president and chief executive officer of Mil-Way Federal Credit Union, where he has been employed for more than 30 years. He has served as chairman of the Arkansas Credit Union Legislative Committee and as a member of the state Board of Credit Unions.
Brown also has served in Arkansas-side government as a member of the city Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustments. In addition, he served on the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is a member of the chamber's economic development council.
Metro on 01/02/2019