With votes still being counted at press-time Tuesday, Paul Choate was in the lead in the three-way race for El Dorado mayor.
As of press time, incumbent Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer, a Democrat, had fallen behind Choate; Smith-Creer had 1,792 votes counted in her favor, compared to Choate’s 2,478 votes. Independent Tokorra Cato trailed behind both with 184 votes.
Smith-Creer made history in 2018 when she became the first woman and African-American to occupy the mayor’s office.
Some of the key issues on which Smith-Creer ran were keeping local residents informed about city goings-on and holding elected officials accountable. Choate has been running on a four-pronged platform involving public safety, beautification of the city, public Wi-Fi access and economic development. Cato advocated for infrastructure improvements, economic development and public safety.
This story ran in the Nov. 9, 2022 print edition of the News-Times. Check back for the latest local election results and final vote counts.