IN SHORT: Roberson will face former Sheriff Martin for the third time as spirited races include contests for quorum court, mayor of Cabot, Lonoke, Ward, Austin and elsewhere.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
The marquee election in Lonoke County this year will be a rematch, with former Sheriff Charlie Martin challenging Sheriff Jim Roberson on Nov. 7. Roberson, a Republican, took the office from Martin, a Democrat, in 2002 and turned back Martin’s challenge in 2004.
In 2002, Roberson wrested the job from Martin by 8,646 to 7,515 after Martin and some members of his department were cited by the Bureau of Legislative Audit for improper use of money in the weapons and uniforms fund.
He later pled guilty to one count of falsifying a business record, was sentenced to one year probation and required to make restitution, with his misdemeanor charge expunged from his record.
In November 2004, Roberson beat Martin 11,582 to 7,660.
Roberson and Prosecutor Lona McCastlain are currently the only countywide Republican officeholders in Lonoke County. McCastlain is challenged this year by Tim Blair, a Cabot Democrat.
Democrat Dawn Porterfield faces a challenge from Republican Cassandra Pitts to fill the seat vacated after eight years by County Clerk Prudie Percefull. Percefull has worked in county government for nearly 30 years. In the only other contested countywide election, Republican incumbent Surveyor Samuel E. Smith is defending his seat against Democrat William “Randy” Gipson.
Running unopposed for countywide office are County Judge Charlie Troutman, Circuit Clerk Deborah Oglesby, Assessor Jerry D. Adams, Treasurer Karol DePriest and Coroner Sherry Stracener—all incumbents and Democrats, and Democrat Patricia McCallie, for collector.
Two Republican incumbents are being challenged on the Lonoke County Quorum Court. Democrat Larry Ridgeway, who lost his District 2 seat to Republican Jannette Minton two years ago, wants it back. Alexis Mal-ham, a Re-publican, faces a challenge from Democrat Chris R. Skinner and from Harry Roderick, an independent for her district 6 seat. Casey VanBuskirk, who beat Gina Burton in the Republican primary, faces Patty Knox, a Democrat.
Unopposed are incumbents Larry A. Odom-R, Donna Peder-son-R, Lynn Weeks Clarke-R, Richard Kyzer-D, Robert “Sonny” Moery-D. and Mike Dolan-D.
Also unchallenged are Demo-crats Jodie Grisham Troutman, Roger D. Lynch and Kyle E. Lackie, who defeated Norman Walker in the primary. Also unopposed is Mark Edwards, a Republican.
LONOKE CITY
Lonoke will have a new mayor and at least three new aldermen come the first of the year, with the only contested races in the November General election pitting incumbent Democrat Phillip Howell against Independent challenger Shane Whitehurst.
Robert (Bob) Combs-R, Wendell Walker-I and Kenneth Pasley-R, will face off in the only other contested city council race.
Wayne McGee won a four-way Democratic Primary and the runoff against Alderman Jim Parks and runs unopposed for mayor.
He’ll replace Mayor Thomas Privett, whose record of progress on several fronts could not stave off his support of former Police Chief Jay Campbell and his own misdemeanor charge growing out of work done for him by Act 309 inmates.
City Clerk Billie U. Uzzell-D, and Treasurer Jack Walls McCrary-D, are running unopposed, as are incumbent Democrats aldermen Pat Howell, Efrem Z. Jones, Raymond Hatton and Michael Florence.
Jane Derning, running unopposed for the seat vacated by McGee when he ran for mayor, will be the first woman on the council in several years.
Woody Evans, who left his quorum court seat to run for alderman, runs unopposed after defeating incumbent Jackie Moore in the primary.
AUSTIN
Like all city elections excluding Cabot, Lonoke and England, Austin has nonpartisian elections, with Mayor Bernie Chamberlain facing challengers Barry D. Weathers II and Jeremy C. Reed.
No incumbents are running for aldermen.
In Ward 2, Position 2, Chris-topher L. Dawson faces Michawn David and in Ward 2, Position 5, Tammy Williams faces Sandra Kay Chambers.
Running unopposed are Rusty Eisenhower, Ward 3, Position 1 and Randy Ryan, Ward 3, Position 4.
WARD
A four-way mayoral race has developed in Ward, where all elections are nonpartisan, with the incumbent Art Brooke challenged by Bill Boyd, former Alderman Donnie Rouse, and J.S. “Buford” McClendon.
Incumbents are challenged for half of the six city council, with Ginger Tarno trying to hold off Don Harris, Marrice Jackson facing a challenge by John B. Harris and Jeff Shaver trying to beat back a challenge by Murriel Seymour.
CABOT
Familiar names are vying for the position Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh will relinquish in his bid to beat Marion Berry for Congress.
They are Republican Eddie Joe Williams and independents James R. Glenn, Da-vid Polantz and Kenny Ridgeway. Only City Treasurer Marva Verkler and aldermen Eddie Cook and Kenneth Williams are assured election, with all other positions contested.
Independent Clinton D. McGue and Republican Jimmy Taylor are vying for city attorney.
In the races for alderman, here’s who is running:
Ward 1, Position 1, John W. Johnson and Eddie Long, both independents.
Ward 2, Position 1, Michael A. Burton, an independent, and Republican Virgil O. Teague, Jr.
Ward 3, Position 1, incumbent Tom Armstrong is challenged by Bruce L. “Ernie” Ernst. Both men are independents.
Ward 3, Position 2, independent Nancy Cohea is running against Teri Miessner, a Republican.
Ward 4, Position 1, incumbent Odis Way-mack faces Becky Lem-aster. Both are independents.
Ward 2, Position 2, Robert L. Helton, Lisa Brickell and Thomas Standley face off in a three-way race. All are independents.
CARLISLE
In a three way race for mayor, independents Ron (Yank) Wanne-macker, Harold D. Reed and Ray Glover seek the seat vacated by Bob McCallie.
Curtis Moody faces Leo Orton for Ward 1, Position 2 in the only other contested race in Carlisle.
Running unopposed for reelection are City Clerk Trudy D. Drye, City Attorney J. Michael Stuart and aldermen Mike Walker, William H. Kittlar, Eddie Moore and Brent Doney. Also unopposed is Windell Scales Sr.
ALLPORT
With no contested races in Allport, Mayor Ulyssis Ingram and Recorder-Treasurer Rita Ingram will be returned to office, along with incumbent alderman Robert Dockery. New aldermen will fill the four other aldermanic slots. They are Freddie Lee Coleman, Louis Trimble, Eddie M. Robinson and Natishia Reed.
COY
Ralph Jones is running unopposed for reelection as mayor. There is no opposition for any of the other seats, including Carolyn Jones for Recorder/treasurer and Mike Hale, Tony Edmonson, Dennis Webb, Ricky Hatfield and Jerry Pettit.
ENGLAND
In England, Danny L. Maynard Sr. is unopposed in his bid to replace Jimmy Wallace as Mayor. Newcomer Peggy D. Baker is unopposed for alderman Ward 3, Position 1. Also unopposed are incumbents Rick Douglas, Mike Mashburn, Annette Cothren, Bill Newton, Bob Collins and Dearl Frizzell.
HUMNOKE
Mayor Harold “Bill” Morris faces a challenge from Roger Oliver.
KEO
All races unopposed, including Mayor Nancy Cobb Tardy.
Gloria A. Stachurski is running unopposed for recorder-treasurer and Tommy Anderson, David Lane-hart, James Vincent Cole and Jeffrey Robinson are unopposed running for alderman seats.
CONSTABLES
Constable seats are unopposed with the following exceptions: Carlisle Township, Todd Turner-D and write-in Jimmie Bowlan Jr.; Caroline Township, William “Doc” Klink-D against Jerry Gray-R; Furlow Township, Jimmy Pawlowki-R against Daryl W. Clement-D; Magness Township, incumbent Bill Peckat-D challenged by Jesse Bear-R; York Township, John Sukeforth-D against Todd Kerley-R and Ward Township Michael E. Kindall-D and Mike Reveley-R want to unseat James W. Williams Sr., an independent.