Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Candidates announced

By Donna Hilton

Siftings Herald

With the filing period closed, there are races for 14 elected positions in

Clark County. Nine of the races feature candidates from the same party squaring off and will be decided in the May 23 preferential primary.

Two courthouse positions are contested, including sheriff and collector and county assessor. Two Clark County deputies, Wes Sossamon and David Turner, are seeking the position of chief law enforcement officer in the county. The seat is open because former Sheriff Troy Tucker resigned in January with a year left of his term. The Clark County Quorum Court appointed former deputy Ray Wingfield to serve out the term. By law, Wingfield cannot run for the seat during this years election.

County Assessor Kasey Summerville is being challenged by Gurdon resident Joe Summerhill. Summerville was first elected to the seat in 2002 and was re-elected without opposition in 2004.

Eight of 11 justices of the peace face challengers this year. In the primary, Pat Moorman and Brown Hardman are squaring off for the District 5 seat on the quorum court. The incumbent, Bill Moorman, decided not to seek re-election.

In District 6, Justice Orville Buck is challenged by Sherman Whittle. In District 7, Tiffany Dunaway, a Caddo Valley city alderman, and E.B. Green hope to win the seat left vacant when former Justice J.B. Howard died in December. Deborah Tackett was appointed to serve the remainder of Howards term, but cannot seek election to the position.

District 9 JP Jim Hatley faces challenger Vickie Smithpeters for his seat on the court. Smithpeters was narrowly defeated by Hatley in the 2004 election.

In District 11, three Democrats are running for the seat vacated by Mike

Cox. Doug Cole, Samuel Horton Sr. and Mike Leamons have filed for that position. Cox had originally announced his intention to seek a state representative seat, but did not file during the filing period.

Several of the justices will face opponents in the general election. They include District 1 JP Jonathan Huber, a Republican who faces Democrat George Keck. In District 2, Aaron Stewart, Democrat, faces Republican Mark Overturf for the seat being vacated by Juanita Dot Curry.

In the District 3 race, Wayne Bowen, a Republican, will face Don Clark, Democrat, for that seat. Dickie Batson, the longtime incumbent, decided not to seek re-election.

Only three incumbent justices have no opponents in the upcoming election. They are: JP 4, Albert Neal; JP 8, Jerry Buck; and JP 10, Frances McGill.

Two Democrats have filed for the office of Caddo Valley constable. Constable Benny Arnold seeks another term and is challenged by Kris Treadway. The winner of the primary race will face Republican Miles McKenzie in the general election.

Prosecuting Attorney Henry Morgan is being challenged in the primary by

Arkadelphia attorney Blake Batson. Several other county officials, including county Judge Ron Daniell, county Clerk Rhonda Cole, circuit Clerk Penny Ross, county Treasurer Judy Beth Hutcherson and county Coroner Tim Welch are running unopposed for re-election.

On the state level, Johnnie J. Roebuck seeks to win the seat in the state House of Representatives that is being vacated by her husband. The District 20 seat is also being sought by Paul Laubach, a Republican.

The primary election will be May 23, and the general election is Nov. 7.