By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
In White County, Circuit Judge Bill Mills, 17th Judicial District, is not running for reelection. The candidates for that position are Mark Derrick, the city attorney in Beebe, and Tom Hughes, former district court judge in Beebe.
Since the 17th Judicial District also includes Prairie County, voters there will help determine the winner in the May 20 voting.
The death of Searcy District Judge Phil Shoffner in February created a vacancy temporarily filled by Watson Bell, who was appointed by the governor.
Now, four lawyers are vying for the position: State Rep. Mark Pate of Bald Knob and Greg Niblock, Phyllis Worley and Robert Hudgins, all of Searcy.
White County has district courts in Searcy and Beebe, but voters all across the county get to decide who presides over them.
In Beebe, however, there is no choice to make. Judge Teresa Hughes is unopposed for the district court there.
