By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Longtime law enforcement veteran Doc Holladay of Little Rock appeared to have pummeled fellow lawmen H.L. Hutton of Jacksonville in the Democratic primary race for Pulaski County sheriff.
But that’s with only 4 percent of the votes in at 1 a.m. Wednesday.
If the trend holds, Holladay will square off against Republican DeWayne Graham of Sher-wood, a former television newsman, in November for the sheriff’s job.
The outcome for District 10 justice of the peace seemingly will have to wait until the run-off election on June 13. Neither incumbent, the Rev. Robert Green Sr., nor former incumbent Johnie L. Mass, both of North Little Rock, look like they will garner the necessary 50 percent of the vote in the three-man race and will face each other again. William Ginocchio of Little Rock, with the lowest vote total of the three, appears to be out of the race.
In the sheriff’s race, with just five precincts reporting by 1 a.m. Wednesday, Holladay garnered 81 percent, or 9,271 votes to Hutton’s 18 percent, or 2,161 votes.
Holladay campaigned on his extensive administrative and command experience. He said that was what set him apart from Hutton. Holladay has handled personnel issues that a sheriff will have to contend with and has commanded the largest municipal patrol, detective and narcotics units in the state.
“I’ve been in law-enforcement all my adult life,” said the Little Rock resident recently. “I’m capable and qualified.”
Holladay has worked in the professional standards unit of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department since June 2004.
Before that, Holladay was the Little Rock Police Department’s public information officer.
Holladay said a top priority would be to identify a dedicated funding source to maintain the county jail and to keep the county from cutting other law-enforcement needs.
“We need to increase the enforcement and investigative functions,” he said. “We need to improve the technology. We need in-car cameras and a larger narcotics squad.
“Everybody is talking about problems in the jail, but the backbone is the patrol function.” Holladay has 33 years of law-enforcement experience.
He served Little Rock Police Department as commander of the downtown patrol division, commander of special investigations divisions, acting assistant chief of police and is a certified law enforcement instructor.
Holladay is a graduate of Fuller High School and holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection School and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Critical Incident Management.
Holladay’s opponent, Jack-sonville resident Hutton, 49, spent the last 12 years working with the current sheriff, Randy Johnson, who opted not to run for re-election.
JP RACE
In the District 10 justice of the peace race, newcomer Ginocchio couldn’t make it past either of the veterans, Green and Mass, who both happen to be neighbors.
With five precincts reporting, Ginocchio had received 97 votes, or 20 percent, while Green had 192 votes, or 39.5 percent, and Mass had 197 votes, or 40.5 percent.
District 10 includes parts of Jacksonville, McAlmont, Sherwood, Rixey, Brushy Island and North Little Rock.
Barring a wildly successful independent candidate, the winner of the Democratic run-off in June will be the next justice of the peace. No Republicans filed for the position.
Green, 44, drives a Central Arkansas Transit Authority bus for a living and pastors First Corinthians Baptist Church in North Little Rock. “I’ve worked, pastored and lived in District 10 all my life,” Green said.
Green is a 1979 graduate of Jacksonville High School and drove a school bus for seven years before going to work for CATA. He has served two two-year terms on the quorum court and his wife has served two terms.
Mass just turned 78, but says he has no aches and no pains. After losing to Green by 23 votes two years ago, he said he would never run again, but changed his mind.
Mass retired after 37 years in the Air Force and has served on many boards, commissions and panels.
Leader staff writer John Hofheimer contributed to this article.
