LITTLE ROCK — Correction: Wilma Walker, who defeated incumbent Judy Green in the May Democratic primary, was unopposed for the Pulaski County Quorum Court District 9 seat in Tuesday’s general election.This article incorrectly stated that Green was unopposed in the general election. The article also omitted District 12 winner Karilyn Brown and Pulaski County Circuit/County Clerk Larry Crane from the list of unopposed candidates.
Winners in eight Pulaski County justice of the peace elections shifted the 15-member Quorum Court to a Democratic majority.
Unofficial results showed nine Democrats elected to the Quorum Court, with all incumbents from both parties who ran for re-election winning.
Quorum Court members who ran unopposed in their respective districts include: Republican Doug Reed and Democrats Donna Massey, Teresa Coney, Curtis Keith, Judy Green and Rev. Robert Green.
Other re-elected Pulaski County officials who ran unopposed include County Judge Buddy Villines, Assessor Janet Troutman Ward, Sheriff Doc Holladay and Treasurer Debra Buckner.
In District 2, Tyler Denton, 38, defeated Kevin Gorman, 60, to fill the seat held by Dawne Benafield Vandiver, who is executive director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas.
With all 12 precincts reporting, the unofficial results for Justice of the Peace District 2 were: Tyler Denton. . . . . . . . . . 7,296 Kevin Gorman . . . . . . . . 5,179
“It’s a real testament to the people of this county.They’re interested in finding someone who can work with all parties,” said Denton, a Democrat who works as trip director for the ONE Campaign. “I’m very excited to wake up tomorrow morning and get to work.”
His Republican opponent, Gorman, 60, works in information technology.
In District 3, Kathy Lewison, a Democrat, will return to the Quorum Court.
With all 10 precincts reporting, the unofficial results for District 3 were: Kathy Lewison . . . . . . . . 5,937 Chris Stewart. . . . . . . . . . 5,229
Lewison, 65, served three terms on the Quorum Court in the early 2000s. She said Tuesday that she was “just honored to win this seat back in west Little Rock.”
Lewison will replace Republican incumbent Jim Sorvillo, who ran for the District 32 seat in the state Senate.
Stewart, 35, a Republican who has served as legal counsel for the Republican Party of Arkansas for five years, said he wished Lewison luck and declined to comment when asked whether he would be a candidate in the future.
In District 4, incumbent Julie Blackwood defeated Gary L. Low.
With all 10 precincts reporting, the unofficial results for District 4 were: Julie Blackwood . . . . . . . 7,772 Gary L. Low. . . . . . . . . . . 3,454
Blackwood, 56, a Democrat, has served on the Quorum Court for at least six years and works as a personal trainer. Low, 65, a Republican, worked for Entergy for more than 28 years.
Also Tuesday, Lillie Ingram McMullen defeated Dante’ L. Shelton in District 5 to fill the seat held by outgoing Democrat Wilandra Dean, the longest-serving justice of the peace in Pulaski County history.
With all 11 precincts reporting, the unofficial results for District 5 were: Lillie Ingram McMullen 7,509 Dante’ L. Shelton . . . . . . 1,199
McMullen, 60, a Democrat,is a licensed school psychology specialist with the Little Rock School District. Shelton, 31, a Republican, is a hospital chaplain.
In District 11, incumbent Justice of the Peace Bob Johnson defeated Suzzette McNeeley.
With all nine precincts reporting, the unofficial results for District 11 were: Bob Johnson . . . . . . . . . . 4,527 Suzzette McNeely . . . . . 3,319
Johnson, 59, a Republican, has served three terms on the Quorum Court and is a certified public accountant. McNeely, 47, a Democrat, is an office manager at McNeely Law Firm.
Incumbent Republican Justice of the Peace Phil Stowers held off a challenge by Jane Gray-Todd, a Democrat, to retain his seat.
With all 12 precincts reporting, the unofficial results for District 13 were: Phil Stowers. . . . . . . . . . . 5,527 Jane Gray-Todd . . . . . . . . 4,961
Stowers, 41, has served on the Quorum Court for eightyears. Stowers is a hospital contract negotiator for United Healthcare and a U.S. Air Force veteran. Gray-Todd, 61, is retired after 31 years as a state employee.
In District 14, Paul Elliot, 67, a Republican, won re-election to a second term on the Quorum Court
With all seven precincts reporting, the unofficial results for District 14 were: Paul Elliott . . . . . . . . . . . .6,074 Charles F. Roberson . . . 4,652
Elliott retired after serving about 30 years in law enforcement. Roberson, 77, a Democrat, served on the Quorum Court from 1989 to 2010 and is retired from the auto sales industry.
And, in District 15, incumbent Justice of the Peace Shane Stacks will be returning to the Quorum Court.
With all 11 precincts reporting, the unofficial results for District 15 were: Shane Stacks . . . . . . . . . . 5,939 Steve Walden. . . . . . . . . . 5,797
“I’m pleased and honored to be able to serve the residents of this district another 2 years,” said Stacks, 40, who owns an online services business.
Walden, 60, who owns Heat and Air Energy Experts in Sherwood, called the race a “hard fought battle” and said he’d “try again.”
Arkansas, Pages 21 on 11/07/2012