Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Problems Cause Delays On Election Night

Because of problems with the AIS-115 electronic tabulator the Clark County Election Commission uses to count votes, precinct by precinct results were not available.

However, the overall totals were obtained and are given here.

In the race for Clark County Quorum Court for Justice of the Peace in District 10, Larry Thomerson retained his seat by beating Don Morehead 548-171.

The presidential race saw GOP hopeful George W. Bush with 3,776, Vice-President Al Gore with 4,661, and all other candidates receiving 189 votes.

Statewide, Bush received 470,224 votes, Gore had 418,467, and others got 25,879.

Four of the five ballot measures proposed passed, with the gambling amendment going down in flames, as expected.

Locally, Amendment 1, which will allow counties and municipalities to go into short-term debt up to five years passed 4,466 to 3,500. Across the state the results were 426,109 for and 352,448 against.

Amendment 2, the property tax issue, won by more than 1,400 votes in the county, 4,694-3,266. Statewide, it passed convincingly, 500,196-304,510.

While it will repeal the property tax, a half-cent sales tax will kick in under Act 149 of 1999 to replace the lost revenue.

Amendment 3 also passed, locally by a margin of 3,989 to 3,461, while winning in the state, 427,402-321,256.

This amendment will have all judicial candidates run as independents for their seats, getting partisan politics out of the courtrooms.

The gambling amendment, number 5 on the ballot, was overwhelmingly beaten in the county. Those supporting casino gambling numbered 2,685, while the opposition cast 5,315 votes.

Statewide, the measure failed 306,448-538,053.

In the race for the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 36, Tommy Roebuck beat Ron Addington 5,947-3,216.

Jay Dickey was also given the boot as U.S. House of Representative Congressman from District 4. Challenger Mike Ross beat him 107,895-104,117 across the 26-county district.

This was another interesting race, as Ross wasn't declared the winner until 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Dickey had been seeking his fifth term in office, having first been elected in 1992.

Ross carried 18 counties, with Dickey winning 8, including Garland County. However, Ross won Dickey's home county, Jefferson, in eastern Arkansas, 15,457-11,290.

Dickey voiced sour grapes saying the district will be sending someone to Washington, D.C. who isn't on any committees and has no leverage.

He said the district could suffer without his presence on the Appropriations Committee.

Ross got a lot of help from the black vote in Jefferson County, especially in Wabbaseka, where the tally was 143-53 for Ross.

Earlier this year, Dickey had told black farmers in the area it would be hard for him to help them as they never supported him. Black farmers in the region had asked for Dickey's help in getting payments on a federal lawsuit.

"I am honored the people have chosen me," Ross said, "to represent and serve them in the United States Congress. The people have entrusted me with a very important job and I will represent and serve all people to the very best of my ability."

In his delayed victory speech, Ross said, he won the election because he was right on the issues most important to the people of the district.

He said the win belongs to the people of South Arkansas. "I promise to work hard every day. I'm ready to go to Washington, roll-up my sleeves, and work day in and day out for the people of South Arkansas. I promise to fight for the principles and values we share."

Ross was benevolent to those who supported Dickey, saying he respects them and will work to earn their trust and support. "It's time to put our differences aside and work together for a better Arkansas and America for all people."

There were no local contested races on the ballot.