Cabot, Marshall Republicans file to run in special legislative primaries

Republicans from Cabot and Marshall on Wednesday filed to run in Feb. 13 special primary elections for vacant legislative seats.

Ricky Hill of Cabot filed papers with the secretary of state's office to seek the Senate District 29 seat that became vacant with last month's resignation of Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot. Williams became President Donald Trump's representative to the Southern States Energy Board. Hill is executive vice president with the Bank of the Ozarks and a former Cabot School Board member.

Senate District 29 includes parts of Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and White counties.

J. Donald Ragland of Marshall filed papers to run for the House District 83 seat that became vacant with last month's resignation of Rep. David Branscum, R-Marshall. Branscum left to serve as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development director in Arkansas. Ragland is a Searcy County justice of the peace who was the Searcy County sheriff from June 2013 to December 2014. He also is a retired Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officer.

House District 83 includes Newton County and parts of Carroll, Boone, Pope and Searcy counties.

There is a third special primary election on Feb. 13 for Senate District 16, which became vacant with last month's death of Sen. Greg Standridge, R-Russellville, after a battle with cancer. Senate District 16 includes Newton and Pope counties and parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Buren counties.

The filing period for all three vacant legislative seats started Wednesday and ends at noon Dec. 13. If special primary runoff elections are needed for any of the three seats, they will be held on March 13. The special general election for the three seats will be held May 22 -- the same day as next year's regular primary election.

Metro on 12/07/2017

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