County voters reelect May, Talley; choose Adams for SFC Assessor
Two incumbents and a longtime county employee were elected to top administrative positions in St. Francis County during Tuesday’s election.
Sheriff and collector Bobby May was reelected to another term, as was county treasurer Tammy Talley. Ginadell Adams was elected assessor to succeed Craig Jones who will become county judge in January.
SFC voters gave May a 925 margin over challenger Deon Lee to win reelection. May received 2,983 votes to Lee’s 2,058 votes.
May said he is grateful for the support of voters throughout the county and that he hopes to justify their loyalty and support.
"I am certainly happy that it is all behind us now and I can begin thinking and stressing over something else," said May. "It was a wonderful victory. I want to congratulate Deon on running a clean race. It is a lot of work campaigning and it is some of the hardest work a person will ever do. It is a shame somebody has to lose. I am very thankful that I was a winner, and I am grateful of the people of St. Francis County for all of their support over these many years. My hope for the future is to justify their loyalty and support. For the ones who did not vote for me, I want them to remember that I am their sheriff too. My door is open to anyone whether they supported me or not. Please come and see me."
May said he intends to focus on crime prevention during this next four-year term as sheriff.
"My intention is to keep going like I have been going and focus on crime prevention, being progressive toward preventing crime rather than crime reaction and waiting for crimes to happen and then trying to solve the crime," said May. "That is not a good way, I think, to run a law enforcement agency. I think we have been pretty successful over the years."
According to May, the ability to work closely with the Forrest City Police Department will greatly decrease the amount of crime in the county and within Forrest City.
"My biggest goal was accomplished when we built the new jail," continued May. "My biggest goal now is to make St. Francis County as crime free as possible. We have a good police chief, someone who really has the intention to work with other law enforcement agencies, in particular, the sheriff's office. That means a lot to me. Chief (Ronald) Broussard has an open mind and understands that the only way we can really succeed is if both local agencies work closely together. I am looking
forward to that closeness that I haven't experienced in the past. I think, without question, we are going to see less crime throughout the county and in Forrest City."
The treasurer’s race was the closet countywide race on Tuesday.
Talley held of a challenge for reelection from LaShunda Winfrey.
Talley received 2,695 votes and Winfrey received 2,277 votes to give Talley a winning margin of 418 votes.
“I thank everyone for their support,” said Talley this morning. “I am very grateful and humbled to be elected to serve another term as the county’s treasurer. Thanks to the voters, I will begin my 10th year in this role in January.”
Adams won the assessor’s race by receiving 911 more votes than challenger Alvin Taggart. Voters gave Adams 2,935 votes compared to 2,024 votes cast for Taggart.
“I am just thankful, blessed and grateful for all of the support I have received. I could not have run this campaign without the support of my family and friends,” said Adams.
“I actually did not realize the county was so big, but I have really enjoyed meeting people and visiting with everyone. I have made a lot of new friends and renewed some friendships,” said Adams. “Yesterday, we started out in Wheatley and went to each polling site in the county.
“Having worked in the assessor’s office for so long, I have probably waited on everyone in the county, but this time, I stepped out of my comfort zone and I went to see them. I took it one day at a time. I didn’t want to leave anything undone and I did everything I possibly could so I would have no regrets.”
Adams said she does not plan to make any changes in the assessors office when she assumes that role in January, and plans to name Eula Moore her chief deputy.
“We’ll continue to move forward as we have been doing, as a group, working together,” said Adams.