When the polls closed Tuesday evening in Baxter County in the Preferential Primary, 14 percent of the registered voters had cast ballots re-electing Judge Mickey Pendergrass to his first four-year term. Pendergrass captured 2,399 votes (72 percent) to his challenger, Peter Kashpureff’s 918 votes (28 percent).Judge Pendergrass talked with KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news Tuesday evening following his victory.
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Pendergrass will complete his third two-year term at the end of this year. He says the longevity will hopefully pay off for Baxter County.
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Pendergrass’ opponent, Kashpureff, says despite losing the judge’s race, he is not done with politics.
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Baxter County voters also returned District 2 Justice of the Peace Lucille Soltysik to her seat on the quorum court. Soltysik won with 161 votes (53 percent)over challenger Aaron Bristol’s 144 votes (47 percent).
Voters also selected a new JP for District 7 with challenger Charles Osgood capturing 140 votes (57 percent) to incumbent Marilyn Williamson’s 106 votes (43 percent).
In the constable races, David Witherington retained his District 1 seat with 199 votes (56 percent) over challenger Douglas Stephens’ 156 votes (44 percent). Scott Thrasher took the District 10 seat with 130 votes (68 percent) over Steven Raines with 62 votes (32 percent) and Frankie Baker secured the District 11 position with 225 votes (56 percent) to Dempsy Thompson’s 178 (44 percent).
The winners of these races face no opposition in the November general election.
In the school board race at Norfork, voters will return to the polls June 19th for a run-off between incumbent Mike Watts and Shannon Moody who both captured 203 votes each (40 percent) over Chad Maple, who received 96 votes (19 percent).
Despite a district-wide loss, Baxter County voters favored local candidate Johnnie Copeland in the Arkansas Court of Appeals District 2, Position 1 race with 2,534 votes (68 percent) over incumbent Bart Virden’s 1,188 votes (32 percent). The position covers 18 counties, including Baxter, Marion, Fulton, Izard, Searcy, Stone, Boone and Newton.
In state-wide races, Governor Asa Hutchinson secured his first primary victory in Baxter County with 2,291 (68 percent) votes over challenger Jan Morgan’s 1,068 (32 percent).
In the democrat primary, Baxter County voters gave their support to Jared Henderson with 325 votes (67 percent) to Leticia Sanders’ 157 (33 percent).
Hutchinson and Henderson will face each other in the November general election.
In the secretary of state race, Baxter County native Trevor Drown received 1,694 (54 percent) to John Thurston’s 1,438 (46 percent). Thurston will face Democrat Susan Inman and Libertarian Chris Olson in November.
In the race for state supreme court associate justice, Position 3, incumbent Courtney Goodson narrowly edged David Sterling in Baxter County. Goodson received 1,518 votes (41 percent) to Sterling’s 1,515 (40 percent). Kenneth Hixson received 702 votes (19 percent). Goodson and Sterling are also headed to a run-off.
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