FORT SMITH -- Incumbent George Catsavis and challenger Neal Martin received the most votes in Tuesday's primary election and will run against each other in the Nov. 8 general election for the Fort Smith Board of Directors' Ward 4 seat.
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Two other candidates in the crowded election field, Robyn Dawson and Zachary Muncrief, were eliminated from the contest.
With all precincts reporting, the complete but unofficial vote totals were:
Catsavis 750
Martin 672
Dawson 212
Muncrief 7
Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes will appear on the general election ballot.
All four ward positions were up for election this year. The winners will serve four-year terms.
The Ward 2 race, consisting of incumbent Andre Good and challenger Bruce Wade, also will be decided in November.
In the Ward 1 and 3 races, only the incumbents Keith Lau and Mike Lorenz, respectively, filed and they were declared re-elected when the filing period ended.
Catsavis, 61, is running for his second full term on the board. He was first elected in 2010 to fill out the term of Bill Maddox, who resigned. Catsavis was elected to a full term in 2012.
Catsavis said he wanted to continue to be a voice for veterans, seniors and people who are struggling financially. He said he hasn't voted for tax or utility rate increases while on the board and wanted to look for other ways to finance the cost of complying with a federal consent decree to improve the city's wastewater system.
Martin, 40, is the application manager for Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care in Fort Smith. He is running for office for the first time in Fort Smith but he served as an elected precinct representative while living 16 years in Johnson County, Kan.
Martin said efforts should be made to build on positive aspects of the city to accelerate growth, promote entrepreneurs and enhance the quality of life. City government should be made more efficient and should spend its money wisely, especially on the consent decree improvements.
Dawson, 52, has been principal at Spradling Elementary School in Fort Smith for five years and an administrator in the Fort Smith school system for 10 years. She also is the co-owner of three businesses with her husband.
Muncrief, 33, works in surveillance for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma at Choctaw Casino.
State Desk on 08/10/2016