This is a page for information about local elections. In order to make this work effectively, due to the nature of politics today, I will suggest some basic ground rules to keep this page useful, informational, and as objective as possible.. It is this editors opinion that we keep this to local issues and avoid the national issues dominating the press. We remember that this is not a forum for debate it's a place for gathering information - it's fine to put links to articles or blog posts that are critical of a candidates or otherwise opinion, but please label it as such.
All info below assumes you are a Faulkner County resident.
Basics of Voting
In Faulkner County you can find out when, where, and how to vote on various sites.
When: Faulkner County Clerk Election Dates
Where: Arkansas Secretary of State Voter Viewer
How: Voter Registration Information
To view your ballot (and to make sure you are registered!) visit voter view, enter your info, and then click the 'sample ballot' link.
Upcoming Election
[If the election here has past please move it down to the history and feel free to post results! or the next election]
May 22, 2012 PREFERENTIAL PRIMARY AND NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL GENERAL ELECTION
Last Day to register to vote: April 22, 2012
Early voting begins: May 7, 2012
Candidate Overview
It can be helpful, when beginning to research how you will vote in an election, to take a look at a sample ballot. Sample ballots are available on this part of the Faulkner County Clerk's website. This is an easy way to know who your choices will be, and if there are any other ballot initiatives on the ballot.
For May 22, 2012 Election
Nonpartisan Judicial General Election
Start by looking at the Nonpartisan ballot sample. This contains the stuff everyone will vote on (regardless of party) and is the actual election. It is also county wide, and thus easier to figure out which one is yours.
Preferential Primary
To figure out which sample ballot is right for you you'll first need to choose a party. You will then see a long list of what may seem to be meaningless number/letter combinations. Those are the precincts. You can identify this using the SoS Voter Viewer (above) or by looking at your voter registration card.
Democrat Sample Ballots (by precinct)
Republican Sample Ballots (by precinct)
Candidate Details
Post information about each/any candidate here please.
Judge David L. Reynolds
Running for District Court Judge
Basic biographical info in the Cabin: http://thecabin.net/news/2012-05-07/judge-david-l-reynolds#.T7RHKL8Vwb0
Mike Murphy
Running for District Court Judge
Basic biographical info in the Cabin: http://thecabin.net/news/2012-05-07/mike-murphy#.T7RHb78Vwb0
State Senate
Linda Tyler (D) vs. Jason Rapert (R) - both are currently in the house or senate - redistricting means a new group of voters to speak to.
State Representative
72nd - Steve Magie (D) vs. Rocky Lawrence (R) - this one has all the drama you could hope for. Lawrence resigned last year after being placed on administrative leave, during an investigation into whether he ran illegal background checks on his political opponents. However, he was running against Andy Shock for sherriff, and according to some Shock and Karl Byrd form some kind of power-duo and could have created trumped up charges. Rocky was apparently exonerated at the end of the investigation.
70th - Cody Bassham
County Clerk
Melinda Reynolds (incumbent)(D) vs. current Conway Alderman Mark Vaught (R),
Sheriff
Tommy Earnhart (D) vs. Andy Shock (R) - this is the second time Andy Shock has run for sheriff. There was also a crazy case of 'forged documents naming Republican candidate Andy Shock as the father of a Texarkana woman's baby' which led to a Federal investigation. There was also apparently a threat made to the Dem from some random guy which led to an interesting case of cooperation where both candidates went to the guys house together and explained he shouldn't threaten people.
Circuit Clerk
Jack Sotallaro's mailing says he is the 'conservative choice'. His stated goals seem to be to modernize the court's recordkeeping.
City Council
Wes Pruitt (website) and Aaron Knight (website) are running for Ward 2, Position 1 (the position vacated by Mark Vaught.
Bill Milburn and Theodore Jones (incumbent) are running Ward 4, Position 1 seat on the Conway City Council.
Mayor
Tab Townsell, Mark Elsigner, and Randy Herrold. are running for mayor. Townsell has been mayor for over a decade. The firefighters have endorsed Elsinger , a former police officer, due to pay disputes with the city. Herrold is, according to his statement, a former businessman.
(ran out of time. HELP! the Conway Wiki and add more info to this page.)
Ballot Initiatives
Issue No. 1 : (Popular Name) AN AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR STATE HIGHWAYS, COUNTY ROADS, CITY STREETS, BRIDGES, AND OTHER SURFACE TRANSPORTATION - would raise taxes by half a percent to build roads
Issue No. 2 : (Popular Name) AN AMENDMENT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY FINANCING OF SALES TAX ANTICIPATED REVENUE BOND PROJECTS, UNFUNDED LIABILITIES OF CLOSED LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE PENSION PLANS, AND REAL AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY - (a proposal written by monkeys banging on typewriters. It looks like it creates special economic zones and tries to re-fund city pension plans for safety workers. I can't tell how these are connected, or if they simply jammed two things together to create a frankenstein amendment.)
ISSUE No. 3 --{Votes for this issue will NOT be tabulated due to a ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court} AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW NANCY TODD’S POKER PALACE AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, LLC TO OWN AND OPERATE FOUR CASINO GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS, ONE EACH IN PULASKI, MILLER, FRANKLIN AND CRITTENDEN COUNTIES - doesn't matter what it says, 'cause your vote won't be counted.
ISSUE No. 4 -- {Votes for this issue will NOT be tabulated due to a ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court} AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW ARKANSAS HOTELS AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. TO OWN AND OPERATE SEVEN CASINO GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS, ONE EACH IN SEBASTIAN, PULASKI, GARLAND, MILLER, CRITTENDEN, BOONE AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES- doesn't matter what it says, 'cause your vote won't be counted.
ISSUE No. 5 -- THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT - creates non-profit dispensaries, and allows individuals living too far from a dispensary to grow marijuana for medical use
Other Helpful Resources
