The Union County Clerk's Office on Wednesday provided a comprehensive list of local candidates for office after leaving several who filed to run in 2024 out on Tuesday.
The News-Times on Wednesday erroneously reported an incomplete list of candidates who have filed, based on documents provided to the newspaper by the Clerk's Office.
While there are no contested races for seats on the Union County Quorum Court, one candidate was left out of Tuesday's story: Republican Royce D. Worth, who is running to represent District 8.
Also running for Justice of the Peace positions are incumbent Democrat Mike Dumas, for District 1; Republican Greg Harrison, District 2; Republican David Taylor, District 3; incumbent Republican Steven Ward, District 4; incumbent Democrat Carolyn Jones, District 5; Republican Casey Wooten, District 7; incumbent Republican Benny Vestal, District 9; incumbent Republican Ross Burton, District 10; and incumbent Republican Phillip Hamaker.
Notable among the candidates is Harrison, who formerly served as a JP for District 3 until July, when he resigned, saying he'd moved out of the district. Also, no candidates filed to run for the District 6 seat, which is currently held by Democrat Cecil Polk.
Several current JPs did not file for re-election, including District 2's Avo Vartenian, appointed to the position in June; District 3's Alan Morgan, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Harrison in September; District 7's Johnny Burson, who has served as a JP since 2005; and District 8's Donnie Crawford, who served as a JP in the early 2000's and was re-elected to the position in 2020.
Two candidates running for seats on the El Dorado City Council were also left out of Tuesday's story: Republican Jill Weinischke, running for the Ward 1 Position 2 seat, and Democrat Andre Rucks, running for the Ward 3 Position 2 seat.
Ward 1 will have one contested primary race, between Weinischke and incumbent Frank Hash, also a Republican. David Hurst, a Republican who currently holds the Ward 1 Position 1 seat on the Council, is running unopposed.
Both seats in Ward 2 are up for grabs, as Democrat challengers Jacarllus Hill and Nathan Rainey vie, respectively, for the Position 1 and 2 seats. They're up against Republican incumbents Vance Williamson (Position 1) and Judy Ward (Position 2).
Rucks, who previously served on the Council from 2019 through 2022, will face current Council member Roy H. Bullock Sr. for the Ward 3 Position 2 seat in the Democratic primary next year. Bullock was appointed to the position in August after the death of Bishop George Calloway, who was elected to the Council in 2022. Democrat Willie McGhee is running unopposed for the Position 1 seat.
Incumbents Buddy McAdams (Position 1) and Dianne Hammond (Position 2) are both running unopposed for the positions they currently hold.
All members of Smackover's City Council also filed for re-election, including Republican Mark Corley, for Ward 1 Position 1; Independent Philip Childers, for Ward 1 Position 2; Independent Jeff Price, for Ward 2 Position 1; Republican Chris Long, for Ward 2 Position 2; Republican Phyllis N. Scott, for Ward 3 Position 1; and Democrat Paul A. Givens, for Ward 3 Position 2. Price and Scott were both left out of Tuesday's story on candidate filings.
Longtime Smackover Recorder/Treasurer Rick East, an Independent, also filed for re-election.
Incumbent Democrats Arthemus Henry, Myrtle "Tip" Vestal, Carrie Thomas and Charles Perry were all left out of Tuesday's story as well, as candidate for Strong City Council. Henry is seeking the Ward 1 Position 1 seat; Vestal, the Ward 3 Position 1 seat; and Thomas, the Ward 3 Position 2 seat. Perry's Political Practices Pledge does not list which seat he is running for. Also running for re-election is incumbent Democrat John Williams.
Left out of the candidates for Huttig City Council were newcomer Jimmy E. May, running for the Ward 1 Position 2 seat; incumbent Lerlene Russell, for the Ward 2 Position 2 seat; and incumbent Democrat Van Page, for the Ward 3 Position 2 seat. Also running are other incumbents, including Democrat Cassundra Mitchell for the Ward 1 Position 1 seat; Democrat Laura A. Manning for the Ward 2 Position 1 seat; and Dorothy L. May for the Ward 3 Position 1 seat.
Two candidates filed to run for the Junction City Council, including Republican incumbent Ronnie Sehon, who was left out of Tuesday's story, running for the Ward 3 Position 1 seat; and incumbent Republican Paul Enis, running for the Ward 2 Position 2 seat.
Brenda Gail Sehon, a Republican filed for re-election to her current position as Junction City Recorder/Treasurer as well. She was not included in Tuesday's story about candidate filings.
Two constable candidates filed to run: Jordan Braswell, for Constable of Garner Township; and Robert H. Pepper, of Junction City, whose Political Practices Pledge form doesn't list a service area.
Only two El Dorado School Board candidates had to file for re-election this year: Wayne C. Gibson, for Zone 1, and Vicky J. Dobson, for Zone 6. Both are incumbents, and Dobson is currently Vice President of the Board.
Four candidates filed to run for the Smackover-Norphlet School Board: Donald Lynn Thomas III, for Zone 1; Dustin L. Darden, for Zone 3; Richard Ray, for Zone 6; and Kristi Purifoy, for Zone 7. Ray was left out of Tuesday's story.
Junction City School Board member Paul K. Kugler Jr. filed for re-election to his seat as the Zone 3 representative. And Will Smith was the sole candidate to file for a seat on the Parkers Chapel School Board.
Forty-one people also filed for positions in the Union County Republican Committee, and one filed for a position in the Union County Democratic Committee.
At the state level, two Democrats are vying for incumbent Republican Rep. Sonia Barker's position representing House District 96: Horace Ray Charles and Robin G. Roark. The winner of the Democratic primary will go on to face Barker in the general election.
Republican Rep. Matthew Shepherd has one challenger for his House District 97 seat: Democrat O'Dell Carr.
The primary election is scheduled for March 5, and early voting in those races will open on February 19. The general election will be held November 5, with early voting starting on October 21.
Union County uses a voting center model during elections, meaning any local, registered voter can cast their ballot at any polling place in the county.
The Union County Election Commission voted earlier this month to close three of El Dorado's four polling places, leaving only the Ward 4 location at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium open for the 2024 election. Felsenthal's sole polling place was also closed.