2016 was an election year with controversial issues on the ballot and a historic win for a local candidate.
SHAWN WOMACK ELECTED TO STATE SUPREME COURT
Judge Shawn Womack of Mountain Home made history in the March 1 Primary Election when he defeated Clark Mason for the Associate Justice Seat 5 on the Arkansas Supreme Court. When Womack begins his eight year term, he will be the first judge from Mountain Home to serve on Arkansas’ highest court.
Womack, who currently serves as a circuit court judge, credits his win to hard work canvassing the state and says he is looking forward to his new job.
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Womack will replace Justice Paul Danielson, who is retiring. Womack, a Republican, served on the Arkansas State Senate from 2003 to 2009 representing District 1 which included Baxter County and Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003.
BAXTER COUNTY VOTERS FOLLOW STATE TREND IN GENERAL ELECTION
Although voter turnout was high in Baxter County for Tuesdays General Election, at 69 percent, it was less than a record turnout with voters in the county following the state trend by casting their majority of their votes for Republican candidates. Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, carried the county with 14,655 followed by Democrat Hillary Clinton, Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein of the Green Party.
Incumbent United States Senator John Boozman, a Republican, received 88 percent of the ballots cast over his Democratic opposition, Conner Eldridge.
With 80 percent of the vote, First District U. S. Congressman Rick Crawford, the incumbent candidate, easily defeated his Libertarian opponent, Mark West.
Baxter County voters continued to follow the statewide trend when it came to the four ballot issues. Issue 1, for terms, election and eligibility of elected officials received received 75 percent of the ballots cast; Issue 2, which allows the governor to retain power and duties when absent from the state also received 75 percent of the vote; the job creation issue, number 3, received 63 percent of the votes and the controversial Issue 6, which would legalize medical marijuana, which was close across the state, passed, with a 53 to 47 percent split. Locally, the vote for was 49 percent against and 51 in favor.
MARION COUNTY VOTERS PASS JAIL TAX
Voters in Marion County approved a 1/2 percent sales tax increase in the November General Election to pay for constructing a new jail complex replacing an almost 40-year-old facility that has been under constant threat of closure in the recent past for failure to meet minimum state standards.
The revenue generated by the tax hike will go to pay off a bond issue that will fund the construction and equipping of a new facility to house the county jail, administrative offices of the Sheriff’s department and a communications center.
County Judge Terry Ott expressed pleasure with the outcome.
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Bonds will be issued in the maximum aggregate principal amount of slightly more than $8.2 million to cover costs associated with the project.
2016 brought convections and sentencings in a major crime committed in late 2015 and the resolution of an open case from last year. The next segment in The Year in Review from KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot will focus on those crime and other cases.
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