Miller County sees tight JP races

MILLER COUNTY, Ark. — Only three of the five contested justice of the peace races saw the victor garnered more than 50% of the vote Tuesday in the primary election, according to unofficial results.

In races where neither candidate receives 50% plus one vote, a runoff election is triggered.

A little more than 17%, or 4,561, of Miller County’s 26,393 registered voters participated in the election. Nine absentee ballots were cast, 1,469 voted early and 3,083 visited the polls on Tuesday.

A majority of the county’s races were uncontested, including for District 1 Justice of the Peace. Incumbent Judy Wilson was appointed to the post in 2022 to succeed her husband after his death.

In the District 7 JP race, the winner is set to face Democrat Edward E. Lewis Jr. in the November election.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

District 4 Justice of the Peace

Carl B. Standridge Jr. — 70 (48.95%)

Incumbent Jackie Rymer — 68 (47.55%)

District 6 Justice of the Peace

Incumbent Ernest Pender — 146 (50.17%)

Ken Larson — 128 (43.99%)

District 7 Justice of the Peace

Larry East — 268 (53.6%)

James Syler — 191 (38.2%)

District 8 Justice of the Peace

Incumbent Michael Rayburn — 181 (36.86%)

Robbie Hines — 165 (33.6%)

Dean Langdon — 124 (25.25%)

District 9 Justice of the Peace

Incumbent Howdy Smith — 274 (52.29%)

Byron Myers —204 (38.93%)

UNCONTESTED RACES

District 1 Justice of the Peace — Judy Wilson, Republican

District 2 Justice of the Peace — Adger Smith, Republican

District 5 Justice of the Peace — Ernest Keck, Republican

District 7 Justice of the Peace — Edward E. Lewis Jr., Democrat

District 10 Justice of the Peace — Jimmy Cowart, Republican

District 11 Justice of the Peace — Rodney Watkins, Republican

District 1 Constable — Jerry Shipp, Republican

District 2 Constable — Jamie Finley, Republican

District 3 Constable — Rebecca Potter, Republican

District 4 Constable — Art Parris, Republican

District 5 Constable — Jeffrey L.pritchett, Republican

District 6 Constable — Glenn Gross, Republican

District 7 Constable — Tabitha Kristy Smtih, Republican

District 8 Constable — Clifford Harvin, Republican

District 9 Constable — Leonard Lynn Mcdowell, Republican

District 10 Constable — Michael Cornett, Republican

District 11 Constable — Faron Gladden, Republican

* Republican Ethan Eppinnette and Democrat Richard “Rick” Hall did not draw primary challengers for the District 3 Justice of the Peace race.