2 seek open NLR post as few face challengers

Ron Harris and John Parker will compete for the open Ward 3 alderman's position in North Little Rock in the only contested municipal race in Pulaski County outside of Little Rock's city board elections.

Filings for municipal positions for the Nov. 8 election ended at noon Friday for North Little Rock, Maumelle, Cammack Village and Wrightsville. No more than one candidate filed for any of the positions to be on this year's ballots, with the exception of the North Little Rock Ward 3 race, according to the Pulaski County clerk's office.

No incumbent faces a challenger, including North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith, who is running in one of only two mayoral elections in the county in this election cycle.

Candidate filings for Sherwood and Jacksonville were held in February, also ending with no incumbent facing opposition.

"It happens from time to time in some city, but it's very unusual for it to happen in all of three cities," Pulaski County Election Commission Director Bryan Poe said of the lack of candidate filings. "Usually you'll have more contested races, so it seems to me it is a bit unusual."

Don Zimmerman, Arkansas Municipal League executive director, said he considered the lack of challenges to incumbents to be a positive for the cities.

"I think that's a reflection that [residents] are satisfied with the incumbent office holders," Zimmerman said. "If they were dissatisfied, I think some opponents would be filing. I think they are doing a good job. Most of our cities are pretty well run."

Harris, vice president of Summerwood Inc. custom home builders, and Parker, district circulation manager for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, are running to replace North Little Rock Alderman Bruce Foutch, who is stepping down for health reasons.

Smith is paid $120,000 as mayor of North Little Rock. He will have a second four-year term beginning Jan. 1. City Clerk-Treasurer Diane Whitbey also is running without opposition. The position pays $71,000 and is also for four years.

North Little Rock Aldermen Beth White in Ward 1, Maurice Taylor in Ward 2 and Charlie Hight in Ward 4 also will be re-elected without opposition. Terms are for four years. Aldermen are paid $10,609 annually.

In Maumelle, Terry Williams is the only candidate to file for the City Council's Ward 3 seat after Alderman Preston Lewis announced he wouldn't seek re-election. Maumelle aldermen are paid $500 monthly. Terms are for four years.

Maumelle Aldermen Steve Mosley in Ward 1, Marc Kelley in Ward 2 and John Vaprezsan in Ward 4 all filed for re-election.

In Cammack Village, unopposed incumbent aldermen are: Mary Grace McCullar in Ward 1, Position 1; Cody Kees, Ward 1, Position 2; Debbie Eldridge, Ward 2, Position 1; and Rebecca Carr, Ward 2, Position 2.

Aldermen are elected every two years at-large, but must live in the ward for which they are elected. Council members are paid $150 per meeting.

Incumbent City Attorney Samuel High and Pamela King-Stewart, who filed for the city recorder position, will be elected without opposition.

In Wrightsville, unopposed candidates are Allan Clarence Loring for a four-year term as mayor; Bobby Ray Hall for Ward 1, Position 2 alderman; Tena Brooks for Ward 2, Position 1 alderman; and Sheila Garling for treasurer. Aldermen serve two-year terms, and the treasurer serves a four-year term.

Metro on 08/20/2016

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