by LAREIGN WARD, Press Argus-Courier Staff Wednesday, November 5, 2008 10:15 AM CST
Crawford County Sheriff Mike Allen was granted another two years in office Tuesday in one of just a few local contested races.
Statewide and countywide, John McCain cruised to victory.
With 33 of 43 precincts counted as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Democrat Allen had collected 11,014 votes, or 69.5 percent, to 4,843, or 30.5 percent, for independent candidate Jerry Cowan.
In the only contested Van Buren council race, Johnny Ragsdale appeared in good shape to unseat incumbent Kevin R. Johnson. With 10 of 12 precincts reporting, Ragsdale lead 2,947 to 2,355 for 55.5 percent.
The battle for Justice of the Peace District No. 1 seat was still close late Tuesday. With 4 of 6 precincts in, incumbent Democrat Sharon Partain was leading Republican Terry Bibbs by a 413 to 398 margin.
In JP District No. 13, with 6 of 7 precincts counted, there were 722 votes for independent Butch Barnes and 550 for Democrat Virgil Payne.
Justin Lovett, JP for District No. 2, was headed for a loss to Republican Tom Fite. With 2 of 3 precincts in, Fite had 813 votes to Lovett's 454.
Constable Donald Gentry, a Democrat, was locked in a tight battle with Republican A.J. Hinkle to retain his District No. 10 seat. With 1 of 3 precincts reporting, Hinkle had 416 votes to 411 for Gentry.
Other preliminary results:
Becky Hatley defeated Katina Leakey in the race for Dyer recorder/treasurer, 199 to 86.
For Ward 1, Position 1 on the Dyer council, Jimmy R. Julian defeated Hope King 196 to 97.
For Ward 1, Position 2, Billy Gale Morse defeated Harry R Davis 190 to 102.
For Ward 2, Position 1, a run-off will be needed between Dustin Leakey and Myrna Burns. Joe Beckham came in third, but no candidate collected the needed 50 percent.
For Ward 3, Position 2, a run-off will also be needed, this time between Marilyn Marshall and Brent Gardner. Also running was Calvin Tarkington.
For Ward 3, Precinct 2, Randy Beard bested Paul Jeffrey Brown 149 to 125.
For Mulberry recorder/treasurer, with 2 of 3 precincts in, Jerry Dickerson was ahead of Glenda Conway, 289 to 144.
For Ward 2, Position 1 on the Mulberry city council, with 2 of 3 precincts in, Charles Belt was ahead of Larry Starkey, 232 to 199.
For Ward 2, Position 2, David Moody was leading Robert Frank Reeves, 294 to 141.
In the race for Mountainburg treasurer, Lisa D. Harrsion defeated Amanda Anstine-Gregory, 126 to 79.
For Ward 1, Position 1 on the Mountainburg city council, Allen Becker bested Bobby Pope, 129 to 76.
For Mountainburg's Ward 2, Position 2, Bill Leonard beat Maureen LaRue, 113 to 90.
Despite having little say in the national outcome, Arkansas and Crawford County voters came out in full force to weight in on the presidential election as well as on downballot issues.
After voting Tuesday morning at the Van Buren Public Library, Shawnna Stone said John McCain got her vote because of social issues.
"I believe that he supports my values," Stone said. "I'm intensely pro-life. I'm against homosexuality. I believe he has a good eye on the future."
Stone, who has a 19-year-old son in the Marine Corps facing deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, said she also trusted McCain more on military matters.
"I believe that he supports our troops," she said. "I believe that he has an understanding of what our troops go through."
David Broyles, who also voted at the library, said he generally leans Republican but considered voting Obama this year.
"Because of John's age, I considered Obama," Broyles said. But he decided against the Democrat because he said there are "just too many radicals in his closet."
However, Broyles voted against a proposed an initiated act that would ban unmarried couples from fostering or adopting children.
"If it's a good home, it shouldn't matter as far as kids needing a home," Broyles said.
Broyles also voted in favor of a state lottery, saying he didn't believe other states should benefit from a lack of a lottery in Arkansas.
"You're not stopping anybody from buying a lottery ticket," Broyles said. "You're just stopping them from donating to your state."
While most voters who agreed to be interviewed were for McCain, Ronda Warman went to the city's municipal complex and marked her ballot for Obama.
"I think we need a change," Warman said. "I think that the United States isn't going anywhere with this war. I think the Democrats need to try to take over and do something about it. Whoever wins this election will have a lot of repairs to do. I think we ought to give the Democrats a try."
Poll workers at the municipal complex and the library reported steady flow of voters with little wait time, although both sites said traffic had been heaviest shortly after polls opened at 7:30 a.m.
There was also a record turnout this year for early voting, which saw 6,537, or 22.2 percent, of Crawford County's 29,404 registered voters cast their ballots early, according to County Clerk Sammie Page.
At press time, county voter turnout stood at 76.7 percent.
