Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Election 2000: How Nevada County Voted

State Sen. Mike Ross of Prescott was leading the pack in the race for Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in District 4 late Tuesday night.

Certainly in Nevada County Ross led the race strongly. He received 1,785 votes to his opponents' 493or 78% of the vote. He was also leading by a large margin in the adjoining counties. In Clark County he carried around 65% of the vote. In Hempstead County he received 75%.

It appears that Dewayne Graham was in second place as this week's deadlines came to an end Tuesday night. Judy Smith was third and Bruce Harris was in fourth place.

However, it was nip and tuck between Graham and Smith. At 10:30 Tuesday night Ross had an estimated 43% of the total vote in District 4. Graham had 23% and Smith had 22%.

A run-off election will be held June 13 since no candidate received a majority of the vote. The winner will then face incumbent Jay Dickey of Pine Bluff, who is a Republican.

See page 14A for complete but unofficial results of each precinct in Nevada County.

The Picayune did not keep tabulations on the Democratic nomination for President of the United States with the assumption that Al Gore would win it hands down. George Bush is unopposed as a Republican.

County Judge James Roy Brown was the winner for reelection over challenger Owen Davis. Brown received 1,785 votes to Davis's 488.

Sheriff Steve Otwell easily handled Mike Mullins in the primary, but will face Independent Gary Hicks in the November general election.

Otwell received 1,809 votes to Mullins's 458.

State Sen. Sandra Rodgers also won reelection to District 28, beating challenger Don Gilbert 806-340 in the county and also getting the bid in Hempstead County.

District 28 covers most of Hempstead County and a small portion of Nevada County, Prescott in particular.

In District 36, which runs north, east and south of Prescott, taking a strip down the middle and western portion of the county, Tommy Roebuck was the winner. The district also covers most of Clark County.

Roebuck and Brown Hardman, both of Arkadelphia, were running for the seat formerly occupied by Percy Malone, who received the Democratic nomination for State Senator in District 3 without an opponent.

Roebuck received 490 votes in the county while Hardman got 235 votes. Clark County also went for Roebuck, but only by a slim margin.

In the city of Prescott the two incumbents for Aldermen seeking reelection got the nod over their opponents.

Danny Beavert in Ward 2, Position 2, received 503 votes and challenger Elaine Williams got 314. Williams also ran against Beavert two years ago, and was defeated at that time by a margin of 686-477.

Dick Bright in Ward 1, Position 2, got a total of 506 votes while Steve Inlow, the challenger, received 321.

In two Justice of the Peace races that were being challenged incumbent John Henderson was defeated by Bob Cummings, 203 to 126 in District 5, and George Clary, the incumbent, won 174-145 over Ottis Chuck' Otwell in District 9.

Al Plyler, the incumbent, was the winner over challenger Steve Jackson for constable in Missouri Township. He won 598 to 499.

In Emmet Township incumbent James M. Osborn defeated Tom Hand 132-53 to remain constable.

In the only other race being tabulated by the Picayune Nevada County went with Judge Jim Hannah over Keith Watkins, 1327-702, in the race for Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice, Position 5.