Assessor Chosen To Lead County GOP

— The Washington County Republican Committee this week chose Assessor Jeff Williams as chairman.

State Representative Randy Alexander of Springdale and Secretary of State Mark Martin nominated Williams to the position at a committee meeting Tuesday, Williams said. He was unopposed.

Jim Reavis, former chairman, said he stepped down because he will be working with the Leadership Institute based in Arlington, Va. He said he would be working with county-level Republican committees in Pennsylvania, Florida and Colorado, considered to be swing states..

“The chairperson’s primary job is to find and get elected qualified conservative candidates,” Williams said. “I’ve already been helping other candidates out.”

Washington County Circuit Clerk Kyle Sylvester was chosen as the committee’s second vice chairman.

Tyler Clark, chairman of the county Democratic Central Committee, said he will continue to hold his position. Democratic committees in Benton, Sebastian and other Northwest Arkansas counties will work together to find candidates for local and state elected positions, Clark said.

Elizabeth Prenger will continue serving as vice chairman of the Democratic committee.

Clark filed a complaint last year with the state Ethics Commission against Williams after Democrats took photos of Williams using a county vehicle at campaign events. The commission has not made any decision on his complaint, Clark said.

He said he was surprised Williams and Sylvester were chosen as leaders of the Republican committee.

“They’re going to be surprised at the amount of work it takes to be a party chair. Decisions are made each day,” Clark said.

Clark worked with about 23 campaigns at the peak of last year’s political season, he said.

Williams said his new leadership role will not interfere with his full-time job as assessor. He intends to select a person to serve as a public relations representative.

“He’ll be the spokesman for the party in Washington County from morning until about 5, and after that, I’ll take calls,” Williams said.

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