Candidate filing period ends; 3 to challenge for Blair's JP seat

Three McNeil residents are set to challenge for the Marjie Blair's Justice of the Peace District 2 seat. The 12-year county official is set to vacate her position Dec. 31, 2020.
Three McNeil residents are set to challenge for the Marjie Blair's Justice of the Peace District 2 seat. The 12-year county official is set to vacate her position Dec. 31, 2020.

As the two-week registration period for county and state political offices came to a close Tuesday at noon, three area residents are set to challenge for outgoing Justice of the Peace Marjie Blair’s District 2 seat on the local Quorum Court. Blair, who has represented the county district since 2007, announced last month that she would not seek re-election. Her term ends Dec. 31, 2020.

At the filing deadline this week, three residents with McNeil mailing addresses -- Sharon Godwin of 1421 Columbia Rd. 62 W., Stephen Stroebele of 208 Columbia Rd. 59, and Charles Samuel Sharp of 2081 Columbia Rd. 62 W. -- had registered for the soon-to-be vacant JP slot.

Both Godwin and Sharp are running as Republicans. The winner of that battle will then face Stroebele -- the lone Democratic candidate challenging for the JP seat -- in the November general election.

District 2 covers McNeil and the north-central and northeastern portion of the county, until stopping at Hwy. 371 N. near Waldo. It also intersects at the Nevada County border.

Columbia County JP District 2 is highlighted in purple on this government map.
Columbia County JP District 2 is highlighted in purple on this government map.

In state races, District 5 Rep. David Fielding, a Democrat from Magnolia, will have a challenger in the general election. Chase McDowell, a Republican, has filed to run against the incumbent. McDowell, according to his official Facebook page, is a Stamps native.

Arkansas House District 5 stretches across portions of Columbia, Ouachita, Nevada, and Lafayette Counties -- from Lewisville and across the southern and western portion of Magnolia, and covers all of Stamps, Buckner, Waldo, McNeil, Stephens, Willisville, Chidester and their surrounding areas -- and reaches as far northeast as Bearden. Fielding has been the District 5 representative since 2010.

District 2 Rep. Lane Jean and District 6 Rep. Matthew J. Shepherd, both Republicans which also represent areas of Columbia County, have registered to retain their State House seats. Neither have a challenger in upcoming the 2020 race.

Arkansas House of Representatives District 5 is outlined in red on this government map. Districts 5 and 6 are also shown as they cover Columbia County.
Arkansas House of Representatives District 5 is outlined in red on this government map. Districts 5 and 6 are also shown as they cover Columbia County.

Incumbent Sen. Bruce Maloch of Arkansas Senate District 12 will have a challenger as well. The Democratic candidate is set to face off in the general election against Republican Charles Beckham. District 12 covers all of Columbia, Nevada, Pike, Montgomery, Polk, Clark, Howard, and Dallas Counties, as well as parts of Ouachita, Hempstead, Sevier, and Grant County.

Maloch, an Emerson native and longtime Magnolia banking professional, has held the Senate seat since 2012. He previously served in the State Legislature as a representative from 2004 to 2012.

Beckham, a Republican, is a McNeil resident and professional in the industrial distribution business, according to his political announcement statement.

In the U.S. Congressional race for Arkansas’ 4th District, incumbent Bruce Westerman, a Republican, will be challenged in the general election by Democratic candidate William H. Hanson and Libertarian Frank Gilbert. District 4 covers Columbia and many other southwest Arkansas counties.

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican, will see at least two challengers for his seat. A third candidate, Democrat Josh Mahony, suddenly dropped out of the race just hours after the filing period ended Tuesday. Dan Whitfield, an Independent, and Ricky Dale Harrington Jr., a Libertarian, also registered for one of only 50 senate seats in the United States Congress.

The "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette" reported that Mahony's abrupt departure from the race came roughly an hour and a half after the Republican Party of Arkansas had accused the Democrat of misrepresenting his employment status on Federal Election Commission filings. The party then dropped the matter.

Because of a "family health concern," Mahony "will no longer be able to devote the time and energy that is necessary to run a viable campaign," Mahony for Senate stated in a news release that was posted to social media. "The campaign will cease operations immediately and Mr. Mahony asks for privacy during this time."

The move leaves Cotton, a Dardanelle resident, without a Democratic challenge for the time being. Arkansas election laws permit a candidate to be replaced for serious medical issues, but the state’s Republican Party on Wednesday said Mahony’s departure does not meet those standards.

To read more about the Senate Departure, click here: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/13/senate-challenger-exits-race-20191113/?news-arkansas

Sen. John Boozman, Arkansas’ other U.S. Senator, is not up for re-election this cycle. His seat will next be open in 2022.

A full listing of candidates, in the order which they registered, along with their political party affiliation, upon filing is as follows:

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Contested Race:

Sharon Godwin of McNeil, JP District 2, Republican, Nov. 7

Stephen Stroebele of McNeil, JP District 2, Democratic, Nov. 12

Charles Samuel Sharp of McNeil, JP District 2, Republican, Nov. 12

Uncontested Races:

Nov. 5

Lynsandra Curry of Waldo, School Board Zone 1-Magnolia, Independent

Justin Sneed of Magnolia, Constable, Independent

Nov. 7

Gregory A. Sanders of Taylor, JP District 6, Republican

James Derek Avery of Magnolia, Columbia South Constable, Republican

Rick Waller of Emerson, JP District 5, Republican

Jason Robertson of Taylor, School Board Zone 4, Emerson-Taylor-Bradley, Independent

Oliver Thomas of Magnolia, JP District 7, Democratic

Nov. 8

Terry L. Williams of Magnolia, JP District 8, Democratic

Nov. 12

Randall H. Adams of Magnolia, Constable, Republican

Truman Young of Constable, District 5, Democratic

Lynn Story of Magnolia, JP District 10, Republican

John Ferguson of McNeil, McNeil Constable, Republican

Russell W. Thomas of Stephens, JP District 3, Republican

Penny Cook of Magnolia, JP District 4, Republican

Burnie Sharp of Waldo, JP District 9, Republican

Virginia Annette Pate of Waldo, JP District 1, Republican

Rick Wyrick of Taylor, Constable District 7, Republican

Jason R. Ray of Magnolia, JP District 11, Republican

Steve Lee of Taylor, JP District 6, Republican

STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS

Arkansas House of Representatives

Rep. Lane Jean, District 2, Republican, Nov. 4

Rep. David Fielding District 5, Democratic, Nov. 4

Rep. Matthew J. Shepherd, District 6, Republican, Nov. 4

Arkansas State Senate

Charles Beckham, District 12, Republican, Nov. 4

Senator Bruce Maloch, District 12, Democratic, Nov. 6

U.S. House of Representatives

Rep. Bruce Westerman, U.S. Congress District 4, Republican, Nov. 5

U.S. Senate

Josh Mahony, Democratic, Nov. 4.

Dan Whitfield, Independent, Nov. 4.

Ricky Dale Harrington Jr., Libertarian, Nov. 4.

Senator Tom Cotton, Republican, Nov. 4.

NON-PARTISAN JUDICIAL

State District Court District 39

Judge David Graham, Sept. 12

Ebony Gulley, Sept. 18

Circuit Judge, District 13, Division 05

Circuit Judge David W. Talley Jr., Sept. 12

...

Election dates to know:

March 3, 2020

 Preferential Primary Election

 Nonpartisan General Election

 Annual School Election (If held in March) Ark. Code§ 6-14-102(a)(1)

 Deadline to apply to register to vote – Sunday, February 2, 2020*

o Actual deadline is Monday, February 3, 2020.

March 31, 2020

 General Primary Election

 Annual School Runoff Election (If election was held in March)

 Deadline to apply to register to vote – Sunday, March 1, 2020*

Nov. 3, 2020

General Election

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