Voters on Tuesday decided who they want to preside over local district courts.
Taylor Samples, 41, defeated Mark Scalise, 63, in the State District Judge District 2, Division 1 contest primarily in Washington County. The judicial position serves Springdale and Elm Springs district courts, but it is voted on countywide. The positions are nonpartisan.
Final but unofficial results Tuesday were:
Samples 13,210 (54%)
Scalise 11,446 (46%)
Samples, of Springdale, will replace Judge Jeff Harper, who is retiring at the end of the year. Samples has served as chief deputy prosecutor in Springdale District Court since 2015 and was deputy city attorney for the city of Springdale beginning in 2011.
District courts have jurisdiction over traffic violations, misdemeanor offenses, misdemeanor violations of state law and local ordinances, preliminary felony matters and civil matters involving contracts, damage to personal property and recovery of personal property where the amount in dispute is less than $25,000.
The district judge earns an annual salary of $168,803.
In other district court races, Sam Terry defeated Jim O'Hern in the Fort Smith District Court, Division 1 race. Terry was serving on the Division 3 seat. Final but unofficial results were:
Terry 5,690 (73%)
O'Hern 2,111 (27%)
Additionally, Amy Grimes defeated William Hyman for the Fort Smith District Court, Division 3 seat. Grimes was serving on the Division 1 seat.
Grimes 6,302 (82%)
Hyman 1,427 (18%)
In a three-way race for Crawford County District Judge, Rinda Baker defeated challengers Arron Edwards and Lena Pinkerton. Chuck Baker previously served in the position.
Rinda Baker 4,750 (63%)
Pinkerton 1,496 (20%)
Edwards 1,329 (17%)
Lastly, Wes Bradford was leading Phillip Moon for the State District 4 judge race covering Boone, Newton and Searcy counties. Incomplete results were:
Bradford 4,173 (72%)
Moon 1,599 (28%)
Mark Scalise