Candidates file for 2024 municipal offices

Contested city council races highlight of local races in November

By RALPH HARDIN

ralphhardin@gmail.com

In addition to the 2024 Presidential race, statewide ballot measures and a handful of state and county races to be decided in the Nov. 5 General Election, local elected positions will also be decided by voters across Crittenden County.

Candidates had until last Wednesday at noon to file the necessary paperwork to run in the November elections. A total of 13 towns and cities in the county will hold municipal elections this year, with several contested seat and new and familiar names on the ballot.

West Memphis City Council

In the county’s largest city, West Memphis, five of the city’s 10 city council positions are up for grabs. Of those five seats, four will see contested races. In the race for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat, incumbent Tracy Catt will face a pair of challengers: Jessica Burns and Dr. Alfreda Robinson.

City Councilwoman Melanie Hutchinson will be unopposed in her re-election bid for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat.

In the Ward 3, Position 2 race, Wayne Croom is seeking re-election. He

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will be challenged by Joseph Tucker Jr., a first-time political candidate, in November for his seat.

West Memphis City Councilman David Murray also has an opponent as he seeks re-election for the Ward 4, Position 2 seat. His opponent in that race will be Tyrone McWright.

And another pair of familiar faces will be facing off in the race for the Ward 5, Position 2 seat. Longtime City Councilman Willis Mondy will be seeking re-election. Challenging Mondy for that seat will be Al Felton.

Marion City Council

In Marion, there are three city council seats being contested, with all three incumbents seeking re-election and all three facing opposition.

In the Jasper 1-1 race, City Council Woman is seeking a second term. She will be challenged by a pair of contenders in the form of Gene Hardin and Austin Cates.

In the Jasper 2-1 race, the seat currently held by Cliff Wood is on the line. Wood will be faced by Steve Stevens in that race.

And in the Jasper 3-1 contest, incumbent Bryan Jackson and his opponent Austin Smith will be looking to garner votes to secure that seat.

Other races

Only a handful of municipal races outside those teo cities have contested races. They include:

■ Anthonyville Position 4 – Roy Eason vs. KC McKinney

■ Clarkedale Recorder/ Treasurer – Candace Pirani vs. Karatha McWright

■ Sunset Position 1 – Rickey Phelix vs. Floyd Williams

■ Sunset Position 2 – Jerome Wray vs. Donella James

■ Sunset Position 5 – Barbara Mathews vs. Barbara Moss All other races have uncontested candidates, with some having no candidates filed by the Aug. 7 deadline.

Ballot draw

The Crittenden County Election Commission will conduct the Ballot Draw for the November 5 General Election on Friday, Aug. 23, at 12 noon, at the Election Commission office, in the County Annex Building adjacent to the Crittenden County Courthouse.

Candidates will draw for their position on the election ballot at that time. The public is invited to attend.

Register to vote

Not registered to vote? There is still time to register before the Nov. 5 election. To register in Crittenden County, you must:

■ Be a U.S. citizen

■ Be an Arkansas resident (residing in Arkansas at least 30 days before the first election in which you will vote).

■ Be 18 or turn 18 on or before the next election.

■ Not be convicted of a felony without your sentence having been discharged or pardoned.

■ Not be presently adjudged mentally incompetent as to your ability to vote by a court of competent jurisdiction.

■ Must not claim the right to vote in another county or state.

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5. General Election is Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. You can register in person at the courthouse, at the Arkansas Revenue Department or by mail.