Clinard Closes In On Another Term

Meyers In Lead For Justice Of The Peace Spot

— Benton County Judge Bob Clinard appeared on his way to a second term Tuesday night.

Clinard, a Republican, was ahead of independent candidate Ronnie Smith.

According to partial early voting totals, Clinard had 33,491 votes to Smith’s 14,595 votes.

“I’m thrilled and appreciate the support from voters,” Clinard said Tuesday night.

Clinard said during his second term he wants to work toward balancing the budget and solving the ambulance issue for the county. Clinard said he also plans to work toward a new consolidated court facility.

Clinard leaned heavily on his 35 years of experience in construction prior to becoming county judge. Asked to name his most important accomplishment in his first term in office, he pointed to the county’s biggest construction project.

“I would say the most important accomplishment in my first term was to successfully administer the completion of the Juvenile Justice Complex,” Clinard said. “With my knowledge of construction I would say the next most important thing would be the consolidation of our leased space into county-owned property.”

Also Tuesday, Republican Brent Meyers was ahead of Democrat Sean Barnes for the newly created District 14 seat on the Benton County Quorum Court.

According to partial early voting totals, Meyers had 1,298 votes to Barnes’ 493 votes.

Benton County’s growth from 2000 to 2010 triggered a provision in state law requiring an increase in the number of justices of the peace from 13 to 15 and the redrawing of justice of the peace districts to equalize the population among the districts. Each district now will have a population of roughly 14,000.

Newly elected county officials will be sworn in at the first of the year.

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