Friday, June 18, 2010
Arkansas Politics Stone County race ends in tie
Posted by Max Brantley on Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 4:25 PM
The Stone County Election Commission today declared that the race for the Democratic nomination for sheriff between incumbent Todd Hudspeth and Lance Bonds ended in a tie.
The latest report from out Mountain View correspondent, Tyler Henderson:
It's difficult to say what is hotter in Stone County right now: the temperatures or the discussion about the runoff to determine who will be the Democratic nominee for Sheriff. The Stone County Election Committee met again this afternoon to cool down the locally heated debate.Chairman Bob Turner called the commission to order at 3pm inside the courtroom of the county courthouse. Immediately thereafter, Democratic Commissioner Betty Allred moved for the commission to certify the results of the June 8th Democratic sheriff's runoff as showing that both candidates, incumbent Sheriff Todd Hudspeth and challenger Lance
Bonds, received 1,383 votes each. Republican Commissioner Vernon Humphrey seconded the motion, with the amendment that the commission certify the results of all the June 8th Democratic primary runoffs. The motion was accepted unanimously by the commission.Turner then addressed the assembled crowd, which included both candidates and their attorneys, representatives of the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's office, the media and a sizeable audience. "We've moved forward on what we needed to do," Turner said. "The [Democratic Party of Arkansas] will deal with it now. We should get a proclamation from the Governor by Wednesday."
Turner was referring to Arkansas Code Section 7-7-104, which states that, in case of a tie vote for the same office at a general primary election, a vacancy in nomination for that office shall exist. In that instance, the state committee of the relevant political party may petition the Governor for either a special election or party convention to determine who the nominee will be.
When asked by an audience member how the commission would let the public know what the Governor decided, Turner said that the commission would meet to view the proclamation before it was presented to the public. After that, the meeting was adjourned. The total elapsed time was only 6 minutes.
Whatever happens next, things look to stay pretty hot this summer in the Ozarks.
Comments (5)
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Only in baseball, Cit1. In Arkansas politics, it seems to be either luck or money.
In Fableville, we had a tie in the non-partisan alderman election in the 1990s. It was decided by drawing straws. In 2007, we had a tie on a vote to enact impact fees for streets. The tie went to the Chamber of Commerce, who outspent the unorganized citizens about 100 to one. The tying vote was weeks late, an absentee ballot from a missionary in Latin America.
So, always remember your vote does count.
There's no need for a special election for this particular race. Just put both of their names on the November ballet. There will be a Republican name on the ballet (I can't even remember who it is), but he won't be able to draw enough votes to effect the outcome.
In Stone County, like most of North-Central AR, you have to act like a Republican but run as Democrat to even have a chance at getting elected. You also have to belong to the right Church, and your folks have to be friends with the right people.
In Stone County, like most of North-Central AR, you have to act like a Republican but run as Democrat to even have a chance at getting elected. You also have to belong to the right Church, and your folks have to be friends with the right people. - Hillbilly Me
True Dat
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