Union County voters turn out for midterms

Kenneth McIntyre assists Abbey Thomas as she prepares to vote at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium on Tuesday.
Kenneth McIntyre assists Abbey Thomas as she prepares to vote at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium on Tuesday.

A range of concerns and races brought Union County voters out to the polls Tuesday.

Krisa Winn said it wasn’t just one race that brought her out to vote.

“I’m glad that I have a voice and I want to make sure that I’m using my voice,” Winn said. “I pretty much voted straight Republican.”

Dylan Colvin also said he voted straight Republican. Colvin said he voted for his right to “put his opinion out there.”

“Because a lot of the stuff coming out of the Democratic Party now is a lot of socialist nonsense,” Colvin added.

Sarah Hill said she doesn’t vote along party lines and prefers to focus on issues, adding that she goes with her gut “in what people stand for.”

“I don’t let anybody else influence my vote,” Hill said. “Follow your own beat.”

At the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, several voters said some of the issues on the ballot brought them to the polls. Michael Parker said he voted in favor of Issue 5, which would raise the state’s minimum wage.

“We still need more money to live on around here,” Parker said. “Some adults have kids and such to take care of. We could cut down on food stamps with a minimum wage increase.”

Van Frisby said he voted in favor of Issue 4, which would require licenses to be issued for casino gambling in Crittendon, Garlans, Pope and Jefferson counties.

“I think they ought to bring it in. People do it anyway,” Frisby said. “I think it could bring more money in.”

Frisby said he also supported Issue 3, which would have set term limits for state congress. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled on Oct. 19 that votes would not be counted on that issue after it found there were technical errors with petition pages containing voter signatures; supporters then did not have enough valid signatures to place the issue on the ballot.

“They need to do that all over,” Frisby said. “You get career politicians and that’s not a good thing.”

Jarmiko Avery was at the polls with her son. She said she hoped her vote would make a difference.

“I came out to vote … to make a change, make things right,” Avery said. “I hope our voice makes a difference.”

Avery added that she voted for Issue 5, which would increase the minimum wage in Arkansas to $11 an hour by 2021.

“I hope the things they want to change for us do,” Avery said.

Some voters cited several Union County and El Dorado races as part of why they made it to the polls Tuesday.

Charles Dixon said he voted because it was tradition. He said that although he did not know about every issue and candidate on the ballot, he voted for local candidates that he knew.

“I know most of the ones around here. … I know Mike Dumas, I voted for him,” Dixon said, referring to the Democratic incumbent justice of the peace for District 1.

Dixon said he also voted for Veronica Smith-Creer, the Democratic candidate for El Dorado mayor.

Vickie Lewis said she also cast her ballot in El Dorado’s mayoral race for Smith-Creer “because we need a change around here and I think she’d do well.”

David Hearnsberger said he voted because it was one of his responsibilities as a United States citizen.

Branson Sayers said he voted “to make sure that the elitists of the new world don’t take over our way of living.”

“I hope we get the right people in office … to keep Donald Trump in office and finish our agenda,” Sayers continued. “Elitists, globalists are taking over. … I wish that people would stop voting the way they have been … I wish they’d know what they’re voting for.”

Cynthia Hastings said she voted to get the right people into office.

“I think it’s important for everybody to have an opinion,” Hastings said.

Pastor C.L. Owens, of Trinity Healing and Deliverance Church, said he was glad to see so many young people out voting.

“I really think it was very important for this midterm election, for all to have a voice and also to be seen at the polls,” Owens said. “We have to educate everyone to vote for a voice.”

Owens added that he hoped this was the most memorable election ever, saying he voted for people that were on the ground and out in the community.

“This is our voice. Vote,” Owens said.

Calion

In Calion, Bill Yutzy won a three-way race for mayor with 110 votes. Herman Curley received 25 and Jesse M. Amason received 11.

Felsenthal

Linda J. Newbury won another term as Felsenthal mayor over a challenge from Mary Seymore. Newbury received 37 votes to Seymore's 18. For position 3 alderman, Amy Linder won with 35 votes over Penny Owens, who received 18.

Huttig

In Huttig, Tony Cole won a three-way race for mayor, with 67 votes. Larry Hodge received 54 and David Lee received 52.

Junction City

Allen Simmons won the seat of Junction City mayor with 103 votes. Larry New received 54 votes.

Smackover

In Smackover, Bobby Neal won the mayoral race with 403 votes to Donald Hopkins Jr.'s 87 votes. Danny Paul Farley won the constable post with 315 votes over Jeffrey D. Hedges, who received 294 votes.

Statewide results

Before 8:30 p.m., the Associated Press had called the governor’s race in favor of incumbent GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

“It says that Arkansas is going in the right direction and the voters recognize that and they like the plan for the future,” Hutchinson told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. “So it resonated with the voters of Arkansas that we ought to have a new highway plan, raise teacher salaries, to transform state government and lower taxes.”

The Associated Press also called the following races:

  • Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman won another term over Democratic challenger Hayden Shamel and Libertarian Tom Canada in Arkansas' fourth Congressional district.
  • Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin won another term over challenges from Democrat Anthony Bland and Libertarian Frank Gilbert.
  • Incumbent Republican Attorney General Leslie Rutledge won another term over challenges from Democrat Mike Lee and Libertarian Kerry Hicks.
  • Republican John Thurston will be Arkansas' next Secretary of State, winning against Democrat Susan Inman and Libertarian Christopher Olson.
  • Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Dennis Milligan will serve another term after defeating a challenge from Libertarian Ashley Ewald.
  • Incumbent Republican State Auditor Andrea Lea won another term over a challenge from Libertarian David E. Dinwiddie.
  • Republican Tommy Land will be the next commissioner of State Lands after winning the office over Libertarian T.J. Campbell and Democrat Larry Williams.
  • State Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson will retain her seat after defeating challenger David Sterling.
  • Issue 2, a constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID to vote, was approved.
  • Issue 4, a constitutional amendment to require licenses be issued for casino gaming in Crittendon, Garland, Pope and Jefferson counties, was approved.
  • Issue 5, a constitutional amendment to increase the state minimum wage, was approved.

Votes for issues 1 and 3 were not counted per state Supreme Court decisions in mid-October.

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