Looking at the brief primary election ballots in Baxter County in May, voters might tend to believe the same individuals will be representing them in county government in 2019. Of the seven constitutional officers, only Judge Mickey Pendergrass faced opposition defeating his challenger, Peter Kashpureff.
But when Judge Pendergrass gavels the quorum court into session in January, he’ll be looking out across the courtroom at five new justices in the 11-member body, with a sixth seat in contention in the general election.
In District 3, Robert Lowery will be the new justice of the peace. Incumbent Rick Steiner, appointed to fill an unexpired term, was ineligible for reelection.
In District 4, Colonel William “Bill” Lucas, serving in his third term, opted not to seek reelection. This seat will be held by Dirk Waldrop.
In District 5, James Kerr, Jr., serving in his second term, opted not to seek reelection, announcing at the end of the May quorum court meeting he has accepted employment conflicting with his JP duties and would be resigning immediately. This seat will be held by Maryanne Edge in January.
District 7 will also have a new representative, with voters selecting Charles Osgood over incumbent Marilyn Williamson in the primary. Williamson is completing her second term.
Among those with the most tenure leaving the quorum court is District 9 Justice of the Peace Neal Pendergrass, who is serving in his fifth term. Pendergrass announced in the February quorum court meeting he would not be seeking reelection. Cameron Davis will be the new District 9 JP.
Still to be decided in a general election race in November is the justice for the District 8 seat between incumbent Edna Fusco and challenger Shane Tilley.
Judge Pendergrass says this is the largest number of new quorum court members he will have worked with as he enters his fourth term. But even with significant issues before the court, such as the jail expansion and the continuing saga of the NABORS landfill, he says these new members have been preparing for their new roles.
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The current quorum court has frequently breezed through its agenda items. Judge Pendergrass says he can only conjecture why there has often been limited discussion. He attributes some of the lack of discussion in the quorum court meetings to the extensive use of committee sessions, particularly prior to 2018.
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Pendergrass says state law requires any resolution or ordinance to have a sponsor before it is considered for action by the quorum court. He says over the past five years he has encouraged the justices to review these documents and consider their sponsorship before the meetings. Pendergrass says this encourages members to look at their packets in advance and come prepared to the meetings. He says to the credit of the current membership, they have stepped forward with this request.
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