The Candidates
Individuals who filed for office in the 2012 primary County Offices
COUNTY JUDGE Democrats — County Judge Preston Scroggin of Vilonia Republicans — Marvin Lessman of Conway
SHERIFF Democrats — Tommy Earnhart of Conway Republicans — Tim Ryals of Conway, Andy Shock of Conway, H. Allen Smith of Greenbrier, Max Young of Conway
COUNTY CLERK Democrats — County Clerk Melinda Reynolds of Greenbrier Republicans — Mark Vaught of Conway
CIRCUIT CLERK Democrats — Circuit Clerk Rhonda Wharton of Conway Republicans — Jack Sotallaro of Conway
TREASURER Democrats — Treasurer Regina Oakley of El Paso Republicans — Britney Logan of Conway
COLLECTOR Democrats — Collector Steve Simon of Conway Republicans — Josh Hooten of Greenbrier
ASSESSOR Democrats — Angela “Angie” Hill of Vilonia Republicans — None
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
District 1 Democrats — JP Randy Ingram of Enola Republicans — Steven Bannick of Greenbrier District 2 Democrats — None Republicans — JP Randy Higgins of Greenbrier District 3 Democrats — None Republicans — JP Steve Goode of Vilonia District 4 Democrats — JP Barbara Mathes of Mayflower Republicans — Darren Davis of Mayflower District 5 Democrats — Brenda Brewer of Conway Republicans — JP Charles Prince of Conway District 6 Democrats — None Republicans — JP Daniel Thessing of Conway District 7 Democrats — JP John Pickett of Conway Republicans — None District 8 Democrats — None Republicans — JP Mark Bailey of Conway District 9 Democrats — None Republicans — Chris Bills of Conway District 10 Democrats — Rick Simon of Conway Republicans — JP Johnny Brady of Conway District 11 Democrats — JP
Linda Paxton of Conway Republicans — Zak Kubin of Conway District 12 Democrats — Todd Patton of Wooster Republicans — Damon Edwards of Greenbrier District 13 Democrats — JP Johnnie Walls of Conway Republicans — Don Thomas of Conway CONSTABLES
Benedict Township Democrats — Dalton Elliott of Conway, Hubert Goodnight of Mayflower Republicans — None Benton Township Democrats — Constable Doug Deckard of Quitman Republicans — None Cadron Township Democrats — Constable John Edwards of Conway Republicans — Joe Tillman of Conway California Township Democrats — None Republicans — Randy Bowling of Greenbrier, Nathan Kelley of Greenbrier Cypress Township Democrats — None Republicans — Stacy Mitchell of Vilonia Danley Township Democrats — Constable Terry L. Jones of Mayflower, Preston Masters of Mayflower Republicans — None Eagle Township
Democrats — None Republicans — M.H. “Buck” Gunnet of Vilonia East Fork Township Democrats — Constable Steve Padgett of Greenbrier Republicans — None Enola Township Democrats — Constable James Chance of Enola Republicans — Brandon Olive of Enola Hardin Township Democrats — Constable Bill Buice of Greenbrier Republicans — None Palarm Township Democrats — None Republicans — Constable Charles Fulmer of Conway Walker Township Democrats — None Republicans — None Wilson Township Democrats — Constable Gary Cates of North Little Rock Republicans — None
State Offices ARKANSAS SENATE
District 15 Democrats — Johnny Hoyt of Morrilton Republicans — Ed Garner of Maumelle, Rep. David J. Sanders of Little Rock District 18 Democrats — William “Zac” White of Heber Springs Republicans — Sen. Missy Thomas Irvin of Mountain View
District 29 Democrats — None Republicans — Sen. Eddie Joe Williams of Cabot District 35 Democrats — Rep. Linda Tyler of Conway FAULKNER COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE Republicans — Sen. District 9, Jason Rapert of BigPosition 1 elow Judge David ReynARKANSAS olds of Conway, Mike HOUSE OF Murphy of Conway REPRESENTATIVES District 9, District 40 Position 2 Democrats — Steven Amy Brazil of ConMcNeely of Jackson- way, Susan Weaver of ville Conway Republicans — DougARKANSAS las House of North LitSUPREME COURT tle Rock Assoc. Justice District 44 Position 4 Democrats — Judy Judge Jo Hart of Riley of El Paso Republicans — Joe Mountain View, Raymond Abramson of LitFarrer of Austin tle Rock District 66 Democrats — Jeff ARKANSAS COURT Pistole of Clinton OF APPEALS Republicans — Phil Assoc. Justice Grace of Heber Springs, Dist. 2, Pos. 2 Josh Miller of Heber Judge Mitch Cash of Springs Pindall, Judge Rhonda District 67 Democrats — Sam Wood of Conway Lane of Greenbrier Republicans — Rep. Stephen Meeks of Greenbrier U.S. PRESIDENT District 70 Democrats — PresiDemocrats — Cody dent Barack Obama, Bassham of Conway Republicans — Price John Wolfe Republicans — Newt Dooley of Conway, Rep. David Meeks of Con- Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum way District 72 U.S. CONGRESS Democrats — House District 2 Steve Magie of ConDemocrats — Herb way Republicans — Rule of Little Rock Republicans — Rep. Rocky Lawrence of Tim Griffin Conway
Nonpartisan Judicial Candidates
Federal Offices
2V — Sunday, May 6, 2012
Voter’s Guide
To subscribe call (501) 329-2927 • Log Cabin Democrat
Faulkner Co. Sheriff F
ive candidates are seeking to succeed Democrat Karl Byrd as Faulkner County sheriff. Byrd is not seeking re-election. The four Republican candidates will meet in the May 22 preferential primary election. Early voting begins Monday. The Republican primary winner will advance to the November general election. Following is a capsuled look at the candidates for sheriff. The Republican candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Democrat Tommy Earnhart
Place of residence: Conway Personal: Age 59, lifetime resident of Faulkner County. Retired Arkansas Highway Police sergeant in charge of 17 officers in 14 counties. Attended the University of Central Arkansas. Family: Married to Gale Earnhart Earnhart for 26 years. They have three sons and two grandchildren. Why I’m seeking office: “I have been serving the public for almost 32 years between military and law enforcement and I want to continue to serve the residents of Faulkner County. I want to give the sheriff ’s office back to the residents by being a working sheriff and having an open door policy. I want to see the sheriff ’s office a better working place for all employees.” E-mail: tommy_earnhart@ yahoo.com Facebook: http://www.facebook. com/pages/Elect-Tommy-Earn-
hart-for-Sheriff/354824764534658
Republicans Tim Ryals
Place of residence: Conway Personal: Age 49, a 22-year resident of Faulkner County. He has 32 years of experience in public service and law enforcement. He served five years in the Army, six years with the Saline County Sheriff ’s Office and 22 years with the Arkansas Ryals State Police. In Saline County, Ryals worked undercover on the Drug Task Force before moving into criminal investigations. With the state police, Ryals works on numerous drug eradication efforts, including the recent Operation Delta Blues, a statewide operation that resulted in the indictments of 70 alleged drug offenders. Family: Ryals and his wife, Wendy, also an officer with the state police, have five children and three grandchildren. The couple attend Conway Cowboy Church, where Tim Ryals serves in the music ministry. Why I’m seeking office: “Becoming sheriff has been a passion of mine for quite some time. If elected, I’ll be taking a pay reduction from my current position with the state police and I’ll not be eligible to earn any retirement for my time spent as sheriff. I love my home and want to give the residents the sheriff ’s department they deserve. This is my chance to serve the public with my expertise. I plan to implement common sense and
mostly about themselves, with a few exceptions, of course. Getting me elected sheriff is to put our first person in place to pursue the mission of justice for all. Up until now, in Faulkner County, justice has not been available for all. Mainly, it has been available for those with money, power and the right connections. Many candidates assume a friend or foe attitude in that they will only help their Andy Shock supporters and will oppose their Place of residence: Conway foes. That is the type of political Personal: Age 38, an enforcegame many choose to play. Our ment major with the Faulkner effort is a mission, not a game. County SherI have taken on the mindset of iff ’s Office. public servant.” He supervises E-mail: H.AllenSmith@yahoo. four divisions: com Patrol, CrimiWebsite: http://hallensmithfornal Investiga- sheriff.com/ tions, NarcotFacebook: http://www. ics and Crimes facebook.com/pages/H-AllenAgainst ChilSmith-for-Faulkner-Countydren. Sheriff/138376672910467 Family: Max Young Shock and Place of residence: Conway his wife of 18 Shock Personal: Age 66, a retired years, Kim, have two children, Ryan, 16, and Arkansas State Police senior corporal with Alli, 14. Shock was a member of 30 years of the first Mt. Vernon-Enola gradservice. He is uating class in 1992. Shock and a former Van his wife are lifetime residents of Buren County Faulkner County, where his famSheriff ’s Ofily roots date to 1842. Shock’s fice deputy great-great-great-grandfather, and opened a George Washington Shock, was private invesborn about a mile north of Enola. tigation agenWhy I’m seeking office: cy, Maximum “What I bring to the sheriff ’s Investigaoffice is working my way up tions. Served through the ranks from a volunYoung 15 years on teer reserve. I truly believe it is the state police SWAT team. a calling to run for sheriff. I am Family: Young’s wife is Shelpassionate about the sheriff ’s office and the residents of Faulkner ley Helton Young. His children are Angie Shannon, 46; Jimmy County. I will lead by example Young, 41; Jason Young, 40; Max and make sure that the highest Young II, 31; and Amy White, 30. level of integrity and professionHis oldest son, Mark, died of a alism is adhered to.” drug overdose at age 42. Young E-mail: Andy.Shock@Shock4has numerous grandchildren. Sheriff.com Why I’m seeking office: Website: http://www.shock4“There is a need for change sheriff.com/ and leadership in the Faulkner Facebook: http://www. County Sheriff ’s Office. The facebook.com/pages/Andyproper allocation and disburseShock-for-Faulkner-Countyment of funds in the budget will Sheriff/231539046874163 go a long way toward reorganiH. Allen Smith zation of the department. There Place of residence: Conway must be a certified hierarchy Personal: Owner of H. Allen level of rank advancement and Smith Investigations. He has 23 schedule of training implementyears of law ed. A resurgence of interagency enforcement camaraderie between the loand private cal law enforcement agencies investigais essential. I will do my best tions experito restore the department back ence. Retired to an agency of respect. Morale as a sergeant must and can be re-established. and training On a more personal level, I want officer from to put a top to illegal drugs and the Faulkner the associated crimes. I lost County Shermy oldest son, Mark, to a drug iff ’s Office in overdose 16 months ago. I have 2007 after 20 fought the battle against drugs Smith years of sermy entire career.” vice. E-mail: max4sheriff@conwayWhy I’m seeking office: corp.net “The real mission is to enable Website: http://www.maxyjustice for all. It will take a oung4sheriff.com/ lot of people to carry out this Facebook: http://www.facemission. Other candidates are book.com/maxyoung4sheriff
a do-right mentality within the Faulkner County Sheriff ’s Office. Officers need a clear path for advancement, the administration needs to be streamlined and relationships between other cities and county offices need to be rebuilt.” E-mail: tim@timryals.com Website: http://timryals.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RyalsforSheriff
Log Cabin Democrat • Find our online edition at www.thecabin.net
Voter’s Guide
Sunday, May 6, 2012 — 3V
Non-partisan races T
hree nonpartisan judicial races involving local candidates will be determined in the May 22 preferential primary election. Following are capsuled looks at the judicial candidates. They are listed in alphabetical order.
District Court Judge District 9-Position 1
Mike Murphy
Place of residence: Conway Personal: Age 51, has served as Conway city attorney since 1991. District court prosecutor for more than 21 years. Former deputy prosecuting attorney for Faulkner and Van Buren counties. Holds an Murphy undergraduate degree in political science and economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and is a graduate of the UA-Fayetteville School of Law. Family: Murphy is the son of the late Guy W. and Dolores Murphy. He has three children: Katherine, 16; Sarah, 12; and Jackson, 10. Why I’m seeking office: “It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Conway as a prosecutor in District Court. For over 21 years, I have worked with local law enforcement and helped domestic crime victims in district and municipal courts, prosecuting thousands of cases. I want to bring this experience to this new court which will serve both Faulkner and Van Buren counties. If electedge, I’ll keep doing the things that define me as a person and prosecutor: Honest, fair, listen to people, work hard, seek justice and do the right thing. People ask me if I am running for David Reynolds’ current seat. I’m not. This is a new district court and many voters tell me they like the fact that if they elect me as district judge, David will continue to serve as circuit judge through 2014.” E-mail: mountpisgah@yahoo. com Website: http://www.mikemurphy2012.com/ Facebook: http://www. facebook.com/pages/ElectMike-Murphy-DistrictJudge/214140835273516
Judge David L. Reynolds
Place of residence: Conway Personal: Age 57, Reynolds is a Conway native. He holds an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of
Central Arkansas and is a graduate of the Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He also is a graduate of the National Judicial College and the Faulkner Reynolds County Leadership Institute. Reynolds was first elected in 1990. He served 17 months as the district’s first juvenile judge beginning in 1989. He also served the district as chief deputy prosecuting attorney from 1987-89, and was previously in private law practice and a real estate broker. Family: Reynolds and his wife, Mitzi Shaw Reynolds, have two adult children and one grandchild. Reynolds is a son of the Rev. G. David and Janus Reynolds of Conway. Why I’m seeking office: “When I first sought election in 1990, my pledge was to be fair and courteous to everyone who appears in your Circuit Court. I have kept that promise. My staff and I are committed to being accessible, courteous and helpful to those who have contact with our office and court. We have always stressed openness to suggestions from those who appear in court. I hope to bring this same commitment to the new district court.” E-mail: judgereynolds@gmail. com Website: http://www.judgereynolds.com/#! Facebook: Judge David L. Reynolds District 9-Position 2
Amy Brazil
Place of residence: Conway Personal: Age 45, Brazil has been serving as the District Court judge for Faulkner County since July 2010 and has resided over the city courts of Greenbrier and Guy. In January of this year, Brazil she became the presiding judge over all the city courts in Faulkner County: Conway (both county and city), Damascus, Greenbrier, Guy, Mayflower and Vilonia. She has implemented a Sobriety Court to stop the repeat DWI offender and a Review Day to follow up on certain defendants appearing before her. She is a 1989 graduate of Hendrix College and a 1992 graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law. Judge
County has five early voting sites for primary
The number of early voting sites for the preferential primary election has expanded to five throughout Faulkner County. Early voting begins Monday. The primary election date is Tuesday, May 22. “We are doing everything we can to make it more convenient for everyone in Faulkner County,” Election Commission Chairman Frank Shaw of Conway said. “We hope this can give many more people an easier chance to cast their ballots.” Early voting concludes Friday, May 18,
at each location except the county courthouse in Conway. Early voting will continue there on Saturday and Monday, May 19 and 21. Following are the other early voting sites: • Faulkner County Library, 1900 Tyler St., Conway. • Greenbrier City Events Center, 5 Louise Lane. • Vilonia First Baptist Church, 1206 Main St. • Mayflower City Hall, 2 Ashmore Drive. Early voting hours at the county courthouse are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10
a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday, May 21. Early voting hours at the other four polling sites are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Shaw said that Arkansas is one of the few states that does not require identification to vote. A worker must ask for identification. If a voter cannot provide ID, he can still vote but the vote is listed as one without identification. It is a crime to vote multiple times or to vote under someone else’s name.
tablishing her law firm, she was a deputy prosecuting attorney for the 20th Judicial District. The prosecutorial experience allowed her to gain substantial knowledge of Arkansas Weaver criminal rules and law. In addition to her courtroom experience, Weaver has worked at the appellate court level. Prior to becoming a prosecutor, she was a law clerk for Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker. She was an assistant case coordinator for 20th Judicial District Circuit Judge David Reynolds and law clerk for former 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney H.G. Foster. She has served as district judge for the city of Vilonia. Why I’m seeking office: “The District Court is normally the first contact the general public has with the Court system so it is imperative the judge treat everyone with dignity and respect. A judge should be experienced, impartial and apply the law evenhandedly, as well as consistent with his or her rulings. My experience and qualifications as a general practice attorney, a former deputy prosecuting attorney, former Appellate Court law clerk and as a city court judge gives me a unique insight to the duties of this position and makes me well qualified to sit as District Court Susan Weaver judge. If elected I will work every Place of residence: Conway day to make sure everyone who comes into the courtroom is dealt Personal: Weaver holds a with fairly and the cases resolved speech language pathology degree from the University of Cen- as quickly as possible.” Facebook: http://www. tral Arkansas and she holds a facebook.com/pages/Susanlaw degree from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. She is Weaver-for-District-Courta former prosecutor. Prior to es- Judge/230776673664968 Brazil was appointed to the bench by Gov. Mike Beebe following the unexpected death of her uncle, the late Russell L. “Jack” Roberts, who served the community as judge for nearly 30 years. Her law partners are father Bill Brazil, Matt Adlong and Tom Mickel. Additionally, her partners have included Circuit Judge Ed Clawson, Michael Murphy, Pamela Osment, Tom Courtway, Joe Don Winningham and Caroline Winningham. Family: Brazil is the daughter of Bill and Suzanne Brazil, She has one brother, Clay, who is a school teacher and married to Christy Hofher Brazil. The most important Brazil is her 11-yearold nephew, David Paul. Her grandparents are the late Clay and Velma Brazil of Morrilton and Russell and Violet Roberts of Conway. Why I’m seeking office: “It has been a pleasure serving as District Court judge and I look forward to continuing to do so. This position is a huge responsibility and one I do not take lightly. If elected, I promise to treat people fairly and with dignity while upholding the law. I hope to expand the Sobriety Court district wide. I have set aside my private practice since January of this year to dedicate my time as judge. We have wonderful people living in this newly created district and I look forward to meeting as many as possible. The encouragement and support from people in both counties is humbling.” Website: http://electjudgeamybrazil.com/index.php Facebook: Judge Amy Brazil
4V — Sunday, May 6, 2012
Voter’s Guide
To subscribe call (501) 329-2927 • Log Cabin Democrat
US CONGRESS DIST 2 - CONGRESSMAN TIM GRIFFIN ST SENATE DIST 18 - SENATOR MISSY THOMAS IRVIN ST SENATE DIST 29 - SENATOR EDDIE JOE WILLIAMS ST SENATE DIST 35 - SENATOR JASON RAPERT ST REP DIST 40 - DOUGLAS HOUSE ST REP DIST 44 - JOE FARRER ST REP DIST 67 - REP STEPHEN MEEKS ST REP DIST 72 - ROCKY LAWRENCE COUNTY JUDGE - MARVIN LESSMANN COUNTY CLERK - MARK VAUGHT CIRCUIT CLERK - JACK SOTALLARO TREASURER - BRITNEY LOGAN TAX COLLECTOR - JOSH HOOTEN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 1 - STEVEN ROSS BANNICK JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 2 - RANDY HIGGINS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 3 - STEVE GOODE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 4 - DAREN ANDREW DAVIS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 5 - CHARLES PRINCE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 6 - DANIEL G THESSING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 8 - MARK BAILEY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 9 -CHRIS P BILLS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 10 - JOHNNY BRADY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 11 - ZAK KUBIN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 12 - DAMON EDWARDS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 13 - DON THOMAS CONSTABLES: CADRON TOWNSHIP - JOE TILLMAN PALARM TOWNSHIP - CHARLES FULMER EAGLE TOWNSHIP - M.H. “BUCK” GUNNETT ENOLA TOWNSHIP - BRANDON OLIVE CYPRESS TOWNSHIP - STACY MITCHELL
This is a sample ballot for the Republican preferential primary election in Faulkner County. Early voting begins Monday and the election is May 22.
Sample ballots are courtesy of the county Election Commission and the county clerk’s office. All primary ballots may be accessed by linking onto the election page at thecabin.net.
Log Cabin Democrat • Find our online edition at www.thecabin.net
U.S. CONGRESS DIST 2 - HERB RULE ST SENTATE DISTRICT 15 - JOHNNY HOYT ST SENTATE DIST 18 - WILLIAM “ZAC” WHITE ST SENATE DIST 35 - STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDA TYLER ST REP DIST 40 - STEVEN MCNEELY ST REP DIST 44 - JUDY RILEY ST REP DIST 66 - JEFF PISTOLE ST REP DIST 67 - SAM LANE ST REP DIST 72 - STEVE MAGIE COUNTY JUDGE - COUNTY JUDGE PRESTON SCROGGIN COUNTY CLERK - COUNTY CLERK MELINDA REYNOLDS CIRCUIT CLERK - RHONDA WHARTON, CIRCUIT CLERK TREASURER - REGINA OAKLEY, FAULKNER COUNTY TREASURER TAX ASSESSOR - ANGELA “ANGIE” HILL TAX COLLECTOR - STEVE SIMON COUNTY SHERIFF - TOMMY EARNHART JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 1 - RANDY INGRAM JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 4 - BARBARA MATHES JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 5 - BRENDA BREWER JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 7 - JON C PICKETT JUSTIC OF THE PEACE DIST 10 - RICK SIMON JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 11 - LINDA JONES PAXTON JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 12 - TODD PATTON JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DIST 13 -JUSTICE HOHNNIE K WELLS CONSTABLES: CADRON TOWNSHIP - JOHN EDWARDS BENEDICT - HUBERT GOODNIGHT HARDIN TOWNSHIP - BILL BUICE ENOLA TOWNSHIP - JAMES CHANCE WILSON TOWNSHIP - GARY D CATES EAST FORK TOWNSHIP - STEVE PADGETT BENTON TOWNSHIP - DOUG DECKARD
Voter’s Guide
Sunday, May 6, 2012 — 5V
This is a sample ballot for the Democratic preferential primary election
in Faulkner County. Early voting begins Monday and the election is May 22. Sample ballots are courtesy of the county Election Commission and the county clerk’s office. All primary ballots may be accessed by linking onto the election page at thecabin.net.
6V — Sunday, May 6, 2012
Voter’s Guide
To subscribe call (501) 329-2927 • Log Cabin Democrat
This is a sample ballot for the nonpartisan judicial contests in Faulkner County. Early voting begins Monday and the election is May 22. Page 2 of the ballot is inset at a smaller size than it will appear. Sample ballots are courtesy of the county Election Commission and the county clerk’s office. All primary ballots may be accessed by linking onto the election page at thecabin.net.
Trio of legislative contests in primary Three legislative races are on the ballot for the Republican preferential primary election in Faulkner County. No Democratic legislative candidates have opposition this month. The primary election is Tuesday, May 22. Early voting starts Monday. Republican Reps. Ed Garner of Maumelle and David J. Sanders of Little Rock are vying for the Senate District 15 nomination. The House District 66 primary race pits two Heber Springs residents, Phil Grace and Josh Miller. Rep. David Meeks of Conway will challenge Price Dooley, also of Conway, for the House District 70 nomination
in the GOP primary. Democratic legislative candidates without primary opposition: Senate District 15 — Johnny Hoyt of Morrilton. Senate District 18 — William “Zac” White of Heber Springs. Senate District 35 — Rep. Linda Tyler of Conway. House District 40 — Steven McNeely of Jacksonville. House District 44 — Judy Riley of El Paso. House District 66 — Jeff Pistole of Clinton. House District 67 — Sam Lane of Greenbrier. House District 70 — Cody Bassham of Conway. House District 72 — Steve Magie of Conway.
Republican legislative candidates without primary opposition: Senate District 18 — Sen. Missy Thomas Irvin of Mountain View. Senate District 29 — Sen. Eddie Joe Williams of Cabot. Senate District 35 — Sen. Jason Rapert of Bigelow. House District 40 -Douglas House of North Little Rock. House District 44 -Joe Farrer of Austin. House District 67 -Rep. Stephen Meeks of Greenbrier. House District 72 -Rocky Lawrence of Conway. All of the legislative hopefuls and their races will be previewed in detail starting after the primary..
Hiring slowdown could vex Obama plans The economy isn’t cooperating with President Barack Obama’s re-election schedule. For the third year in a row, an early spurt of growth has started to fade in the spring. Obama planned backto-back political rallies Saturday in Ohio and Virginia, his first official ones of the campaign. They are battleground states he won in 2008 but where he is more closely challenged this year. Jobs are a key issue in both. The economy added
115,000 jobs in April, not even enough to keep up with population growth. The jobless rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.2 percent, but mainly because people left the workforce. Look back to 1984, when President Ronald Reagan was seeking a second term. As now, the nation was emerging from deep recession. But the job growth for April 1984 was a solid 363,000, the unemployment rate 7.7 percent, down from a peak of 10.8 percent. Recovery momen-
tum helped propel Reagan to a landslide over Democrat Walter Mondale. But now, it doesn’t look like the economy will turn the corner in time to be much help to Obama in what is shaping up as a tight race. His Republican rival, Mitt Romney, not surprisingly, saw only gloom. “We seem to be slowing down, not speeding up,” he said, calling Friday’s jobs report “terrible and very disappointing,” a reflection of failed policies.
Log Cabin Democrat • Find our online edition at www.thecabin.net
Voter’s Guide
Sunday, May 6, 2012 — 7V
Faulkner County races I
Quiet primary for majority of county candidates
t’s a quiet preferential primary election season in Faulkner County for leading county offices, but there will not be a shortage of contests in the November general election.
Six justice of the peace candidates will be unopposed by party candidates in the fall, as will Angela Hill of Vilonia, the lone candidate for county assessor. Independent candidates could emerge. Seven JP races are on tap for the general election, and there will be contests for county judge, county clerk, circuit clerk, treasurer, collector and sheriff. A separate look at the sheriff candidates is in this guide. Candidates for the top county offices and their races will be profiled in detail prior to the general election, of course. But following is a list of the candidates who will be hitting the local campaign trail in earnest before long.
COUNTY JUDGE Democrat — County Judge Preston Scroggin of Vilonia Republican — Marvin Lessman of Conway
COUNTY CLERK Democrat — County Clerk Melinda Reynolds of Greenbrier Republican — Mark
Vaught of Conway
Hubert Goodnight of Brewer of Conway Republican — JP Mayflower CIRCUIT CLERK Charles Prince of ConDemocrat — Circuit way Benton Township Clerk Rhonda Wharton Democrat — Conof Conway stable Doug Deckard of District 6 Republican — Jack Republican — JP Quitman Sotallaro of Conway Daniel Thessing of Cadron Township Conway TREASURER Democrat — ConDemocrat — Treastable John Edwards of District 7 surer Regina Oakley of Democrat — JP John Conway El Paso Republican — Joe Pickett of Conway Republican — BritTillman of Conway ney Logan of Conway District 8 California Republican — JP COLLECTOR Township Mark Bailey of Conway Democrat — CollecRepublicans — Rantor Steve Simon of Condy Bowling of GreenDistrict 9 way Republican — Chris brier Republican — Josh Bills of Conway Nathan Kelley of Hooten of Greenbrier Greenbrier District 10 ASSESSOR Democrat — Rick SiDemocrat — Angela mon of Conway “Angie” Hill of Vilonia Republican — JP Johnny Brady of Conway JUSTICES OF THE PEACE District 11 District 1 Democrat — JP LinDemocrat — JP Ran- da Paxton of Conway dy Ingram of Enola Republican — Zak Republican — Steven Kubin of Conway Bannick of Greenbrier District 12 District 2 Democrat — Todd Republican — JP Patton of Wooster Randy Higgins of Republican — DaGreenbrier mon Edwards of Greenbrier District 3 Republican — JP District 13 Steve Goode of Vilonia Democrat — JP Johnnie Walls of ConDistrict 4 way Democrat — JP BarRepublican — Don bara Mathes of May- Thomas of Conway flower CONSTABLES Republican — DarBenedict ren Davis of Mayflower Township Democrats — Dalton District 5 Democrat — Brenda Elliott of Conway
Cypress Township Enola Township Republican — Stacy Democrat — Constable Mitchell of Vilonia James Chance of Enola Republican — BranDanley Township don Olive of Enola Democrats — C o n s t a b l e Te r r y L . Hardin Township Jones of MayflowDemocrat — Constable er Bill Buice of Greenbrier Preston Masters of Mayflower Palarm Township Republican — ConEagle Township stable Charles Fulmer Republican — M.H. of Conway “Buck” Gunnet of Vilonia Walker Township No candidates East Fork Township Wilson Township Democrat — ConDemocrat — Constastable Steve Padgett of ble Gary Cates of North Greenbrier Little Rock
8V — Sunday, May 6, 2012
Voter’s Guide
To subscribe call (501) 329-2927 • Log Cabin Democrat