Writer wins second term as county judge

Carroll County Judge David Writer won a second term in Tuesday’s general election, defeating Democratic challenger Jim Wallace, according to unofficial results released Tuesday night by the Carroll County Clerk’s Office.

Writer, a Republican who took office in January 2023, received 4,598 votes, or 53.51 percent, to Wallace’s 3,995 votes, or 46.49 percent. His margin of victory was 603 votes.

Wallace held a narrow advantage in combined early and absentee voting, but Writer received 1,617 Election Day votes to Wallace’s 933.

A total of 8,769 ballots were cast in Carroll County, representing 50.17 percent of the county’s 17,479 registered voters. The total included 6,047 early ballots, 2,626 Election Day ballots and 96 absentee ballots.

In the two contested races for the Carroll County Quorum Court, Democrat Al Selleck won the District 1 justice of the peace seat and Republican incumbent Kellie Matt won re-election in District 7.

Selleck received 660 votes, or 53.53 percent, to Republican Sharon Lawlor’s 573 votes, or 46.47 percent.

Matt received 553 votes, or 70 percent, to Democratic challenger David Robinette’s 237 votes, or 30 percent.

Green Forest voters elected Mark Jorgensen mayor over Janell Compton. Jorgensen received 258 votes, or 60.42 percent, to Compton’s 169 votes, or 39.58 percent.

Casie Cenobio defeated Jerry Carlton for the Ward 1, Position 1 seat on the Green Forest City Council, receiving 227 votes to Carlton’s 198. In Ward 2, Position 1, challenger Luis Diaz defeated incumbent Carroll Smith, 246-185.

In Oak Grove, Robert Fairweather received 61 votes to Lajunta Plumlee’s 50 in the mayor’s race.

The Eureka Springs mayor’s race appeared headed to a Dec. 1 runoff between city council member Steve Holifield and incumbent Mayor Butch Berry.

Holifield led the three-candidate field with 472 votes, or 48.71 percent, falling short of a majority. Berry received 272 votes, or 28.07 percent, while former council member Susan Harman received 225 votes, or 23.22 percent.

Berry, who took office in 2015, is seeking a fourth term.

Eureka Springs voters elected Michael Carey clerk-treasurer over Aaron Borey, 463-331. Shira Fouste defeated incumbent Harry Meyer for the Ward 3, Position 2 city council seat, receiving 648 votes to Meyer’s 258.

Eureka Springs voters also approved a 1 percent sales and use tax for the city’s water and sewer system, along with separate proposals authorizing up to $10 million each in water and sewer improvement bonds.

The tax passed 586-381, with 60.60 percent voting in favor. The water bond proposal passed 726-236, while the sewer bond proposal passed 740-224.

The tax would run for 20 years. Revenue would repay the bonds and support operation, maintenance and improvements of the water and sewer system.

Voters approved the Pine Mountain Village entertainment district measure, 507-443, with 53.37 percent voting in favor. The measure concerned a now-expired 2024 ordinance establishing a permanent entertainment district at Pine Mountain Village.

Holiday Island voters rejected a proposed 2.5 percent sales and use tax but approved Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption.

The tax proposal failed 689-455, with 60.23 percent opposed. It would have supported general fund expenses and capital improvements beginning July 1, 2027.

The Sunday sales measure passed 843-312, with 72.99 percent in favor, authorizing sales between 10 a.m. and midnight.

All results are unofficial pending certification.