Denton elected to City Council

2024-03-07 - I.C. MURRELL PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL

Editor’s note: While complete, the results of Tuesday’s Preferential Primary Election are unofficial, pending results of provisional ballots as adjudicated by the Jefferson County Election Commission.

Tuesday’s Preferential Primary Election produced one new Pine Bluff City Council member for 2025. A runoff could produce a second one.

Steven Shaner’s first term on the council will come to an end in January after retired school teacher Yvonne M. Denton won the Ward 2, Position 1 race handily. Complete but unofficial results showed Denton with 1,070 votes to Shaner’s 659.

“I am very, very grateful. It’s still a shock,” Denton said Wednesday. “I’m thankful to God for giving me this opportunity to be able to serve as a council member for Pine Bluff. I’m appreciative to my committee, donors and church members and family for supporting me.”

The result also left Shaner stunned and wondering what could have happened to cost him votes.

“I didn’t cause any controversy. I’m confused,” he said.

Still, he suggested the position is not about him.

“It’s about who can do the great good for the city of Pine Bluff,” Shaner said. “That’s all I care about. I called Ms. Denton, and I told her if I can help in any way, she can call me and I’d be happy to help.”

Denton acknowledged the phone call from Shaner, adding she would need his support and both would have to work together to help advance Pine Bluff.

Serving the community after retirement is why Denton says she got into the race.

“You have to do the right thing in order to serve,” she said. “If you want to do right, you have to continue to be positive for Pine Bluff.”

Shaner said he will spend the remaining nine-plus months doing the best he can

months doing the best he can for the city.

“If you look at my record, that’s all I ever tried to do,” he said.

The Ward 3, Position 1 holder won’t be determined for another four weeks.

Another political newcomer, William Fells, forced a runoff with incumbent Glen Brown Sr. following a strong wire-to-wire performance. Fells got 641 of the total 1,485 votes, or 43.2%, while Brown accounted for 487, or 32.8%. That left Kenneth L. Gray in third place with 357, or 24%.

Other City Council election results were: in Ward 1, Position 1, incumbent Lloyd Holcomb Jr. defeated Marlette Boales 914-447; and in Ward 4, Position 2, incumbent Bruce Lockett beat Mar’Tavius Proctor 514-317.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

While Vivian Flowers achieved a runoff with Shirley Washington for mayor, the woman who sought to succeed Flowers as District 65 state representative conceded her race to another first-time politician in the Rev. Glenn Barnes.

Barnes easily won the race with 1,803 votes to Kanisher Wooten Caldwell’s 972. Barring any challenges from independent or minor-party candidates, Barnes will be sworn into office by Jan. 6, 2025.

“I didn’t come up short. The people spoke,” Caldwell reasoned at her joint watch party with Flowers. “They win. They spoke for who they wanted, and my slogan was simply, ‘Your voice, your choice, it affects our future.’ I’m simply counting on Mr. Barnes to do what he supposed to do by the district.

Don’t settle for the crumbs on the table. Make sure we have a seat at the table and make sure that District 65 truly wins.”

Caldwell received an endorsement from Flowers after the latter decided not to run for re-election to the Arkansas House. Caldwell called the campaign a great learning opportunity.

“I tell people, I didn’t lose,” Caldwell said. “I had a lesson to learn, and I learned it, how to do so much. I networked with people. I made very good connections, and I look forward to using those connections and advancing the betterment of Pine Bluff.”