Several local races Tuesday in Arkansas primary election

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Tuesday marks the first statewide election day for Arkansas this year. The polls for the 2018 preferential primary election will open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m., and several local races will be held throughout the Twin Lakes Area.

In Baxter County, several Republican races have developed. Judge Mickey Pendergrass is being challenged for his seat by Peter Kashpureff, Lucille Soltysik is the incumbent Justice of the Peace for District 2 going up against Aaron Bristol, the District 7 Justice of the Peace Marilyn Williamson is being challenged by Charles Osgood, Douglas Stephens is challenging David Witherington for his position of District 1 Constable, Scott Thrasher will look to remain the District 10 Constable as he goes up against Steven Raines, and Frankie Baker will face Dempsey Thompson for the District 11 Constable position. The winners of these races will automatically win the seats they’re running for because they will have no opponents in the general election.

There is also a school board race in Baxter County. Mike Watts is the incumbent for Position 5 on the Norfork School Board, and he is being challenged by Chad Maple and Shannon Moody in a three-way race.

Two county races have developed in Marion County. Judge Terry Ott will look to retain his seat as he’s challenged by John Massey in the Republican primary, and Assessor Tonya Eppes will face Alesia Owen for her seat in the same party. Neither of the winners will face an opponent in November.

Marion County also has one school board race. Brent Mitchell is the incumbent challenged by Josh Bradford for Position 2 on the Flippin School Board.

Fulton County will have five Democratic races in the primary. The main race is for county judge as incumbent Darrell Zimmer is challenged by Brock Love. The winner will face Jim Kendrick in November.

Izard County will have a pair of key races. Thomas Ward and Warren Anthony Skelton will face off in the Democratic primary for county judge, and the winner goes up against incumbent Eric Smith in the general election. Deputy Earnie Blackley will face Carl Russell in the Republican race for sheriff, and Rick Kimble will get the winner in November

In Stone County, the Republican primary for sheriff is a three-way race. Sonja Anderson-Eversmeyer will face Jerry Linville and Johnny Rose.

In Searcy County, Judge Jim Harness will be challenged for his seat on the Republican ticket by Brian Ragland, and the winner will not have an opponent in the general election. Joey Pruitt is the incumbent facing Kenny Cassell in the Republican race for sheriff and collector, and the winner will have a three-way race in November against independent candidates Paul Ray Johns and Jovey M. Marshall.

There are also three local district-wide races. Johnnie Copeland is challenging incumbent Bart Virden for the Arkansas Court of Appeals District 2, Position 1 covering 18 counties including Baxter, Marion, Fulton, Izard, Searcy, Stone, Boone and Newton counties.

Incumbent State Senator Linda Collins-Smith will face James Sturch in the Republican primary for her District 19 seat, and the winner goes up against Susi Epperson in November. The district includes eastern Fulton County and all of Izard, Sharp, Independence and Randolph counties.

District 83 in the Arkansas House of Representatives includes all of Newton County and portions of Searcy, Boone, Carroll and Pope counties, and the district will have a new representative. The Republican primary is a three-way race between Donald Ragland, Timmy Reid and Keith Slape, and there will not be an opponent in the general election.

Two primary races will be held in the election for Arkansas governor. Incumbent Asa Hutchinson will face Jan Morgan on the Republican side, and Jared Henderson will be paired with Leticia Sanders on the Democratic ticket. Both winners will be involved in a three-way race in the general election with Libertarian candidate Mark West.

A Mountain Home native is running for the position of Secretary of State. State Representative Trevor Drown meets Lands Commissioner John Thurston for the Republican ticket. The winner will face Democrat Susan Inman and Libertarian Chris Olson in November.

Polling locations will remain the same in Baxter County. The Baxter County Election Commission has announced absentee ballots will be counted Tuesday morning at 10:00 at the commission’s  location on East 5th Street in Mountain Home.

Marion County has new polling locations since their voting centers were approved by the Secretary of State’s office. Locations include Bull Shoals City Hall, the Caney Fire Department, the Eros Community Building, First Baptist Church of Flippin, the Lakeway Firehouse, the Marion County Fairgrounds and the Promiseland Community Building.

Tune in for election coverage Tuesday night on KTLO-FM 97.9 and Classic Hits 101.7.

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