Longtime McDonald County Board of Education member Sammy Helm III was upset in his bid for reelection for his fourth term at Tuesday's Municipal Election.
Former MCHS principal Kim Harrell led the five-person field vying for the two board seats with 599 votes. Angie Reece earned the second spot with 591 votes while Helm missed out, finishing in third with 437 votes. Rounding out the field were Kenneth Harp with 217 votes and Bud Cook with 118.
Helm has served on the board since first being elected in 2006.
Mayor Races
In Noel, incumbent John Lafley withstood a challenge from former mayor Lewis Davis and write-in candidate Steve Kelly. Lafley received 61 votes while Davis had 44 and Kelly 13.
In Goodman, incumbent Greg Richmond also won reelection. Richmond received 91 votes while challenger J.R. Fisher had 64.
No candidates filed for mayor in Lanagan, which according to state state statutes allows all write-in ballots to be counted. There were six votes for six different people (or animal). Receiving one vote each were Teresa Ezell, May Thrasher, Cameilla Smith, Bear, George Bishop and Robert Smith.
According to Kim Bell, county clerk, the results will be turned over the Lanagan City Council for it to proceed. The council must verify the qualifications of each person receiving votes (residency, age, etc.) and if more than one person is qualified and wants the position, the city can flip a coin, draw a card or hold a special election to pick the winner.
Council Races
The proof that your vote counts was the race in the Pineville North Ward where incumbent Jeffrey Slish defeated Bill Davenport by a 38-37 margin.
In the South Ward, incumbent Ann Crowder-Sanders received 35 votes to defeat David Milligan with 16.
In Anderson, incumbents Gene Cantrell and Chester Neel were both reelected. Cantrell received 66 votes to beat Hank Heiskell with 34 while Neel defeated Seth Kirk by a 28-22 margin.
In Noel, incumbent Tammy White withstood a challenge by Kristina Hartley by a 41-11 margin.
Write-in candidate Jesse James came up short in his attempt to unseat Alice Kezar for the North Ward Alderman in Goodman. Kezar received 82 votes to James 12.
In Goodman's South Ward, with no one filing for the position, Roger Coe received nine write-in votes. Also receiving votes were J.R. Fisher with two, David Boothe one and Shirley Bowman one.
Miscellaneous
In a three-person race for Municipal Judge in Noel, Robert Barth won the race with 56 votes. Erin Willis was second with 50 and Steve Geeding was third with 10.
Pineville voters elected to keep its City Marshal (elected by residents) form of law enforcement. voters had the choice of switching to a Police Chief (appointed by city council), but the proposal was defeated by a 78-57 vote.
In the heated race for director positions on the Goodman Fire board of Directors, incumbent Paul Sprenkle and Charles Ebbinghaus won the two six-year terms. Sprenkle led the way with 410 votes (McDonald County 315, Newton County 105) while Ebbinghaus received 230 votes (McDonald County 156, Newton County 74). Incumbent Sherrill (Bud) Gilmore failed in his bid for reelection receiving 213 votes (McDonald County 175, Newton County 38). DeAun Richmond received 102 votes (McDonald county 68, Newton County 34).
In the election for the four-year unexpired term on the fire board, Tammie Hartman defeated Marla Richmond by a 377 (McDonald County 296, Newton County 81) to 133 ( McDonald County 80, Newton County 53) margin.
Voters in the Public Water Supply District No. 1 approved a proposal for a $5.5 million bond by 51-32 margin.
For City Collector in Southwest City, Judith Pendergraft narrowly won reelection over Melony Gonzalez by a 39-37 margin.
Voters in Barry and McDonald counties approved the formation of the Washburn Fire Protection District to be supported by a levy of 30 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The vote was 203 in favor (Barry County 186, McDonald County 17) and 58 against (Barry County 52, McDonald County 6).
Non-election propositions passed in Lanagan (21-13) and Ginger Blue (7-1).
Municipal Government
The following are vote totals for the various cities in the county, including those candidates who ran unopposed.
• Noel - Mayor, John Lafley 61, Lewis Davis 44, Steve Kelly 13; Collector, Nancy Irish 100; North Ward Alderman, Linda Glendenning 21; South Ward Alderman, Tammy White 41, Kristina Hartley 11; West Ward Alderman, Faye Davis 34; Municipal Judge, Robert A. Barth 56, Erin E. Willis 50, Steven Geeding 10;
• Goodman - Mayor, Greg Richmond 91, J.R. Fisher 64; Collector, Dawn Bunch 130; South Ward Alderman, Roger Coe 9, J.R. Fisher 2, David Boothe 1, Shirley Bowman 1; and North Ward Alderman, Alice Kezar 82, Jesse James 12;
• Pineville - North Ward Alderman, Jeff Slish 38, William (Bill) Davenport 37; South Ward Alderman, Anne Crowder-Sanders 35, David Milligan 16;
• Southwest City - Mayor, Joe Carpenter 67; Collector, Judith Pendergraft 39, Melony (Joyce) Gonzalez 37; East Ward Alderman, Cheryl Howe 34; West Ward Alderman, Wendell Jones 32;
• Anderson - East Ward Alderman, Gene Cantrell 66, Hank Heiskell 34; West Ward Alderman, Chester Neel 28, Seth Kirk 22;
• Lanagan - Alderman At Large, Teresa Ezell 16, Stan Haywood 10 (two positions, two-year term); Alderman At Large, Jason Helmer 16 (one-year term);
• Ginger Blue Trustee - Ellen Arnold 7, Kelly Briggs 7, Kevin Arnold 6 (three positions);
• Jane - Victor Underwood 19; write-in votes for one-year term were Joe Lahr 6, Chad Slinkard 1, John Beudry 1.
General News on 04/09/2015