County moving to replace Sturch

County moving to replace Sturch

Short- term appointment expected; Vacated JP 12 seat could be filled in Nov. election

news@theeveningtimes.com

Crittenden County will have to hold a special election to fill the District 12 position being vacated by Justice Ronnie Sturch.

Sturch surprised the Quorum Court when he announced that he was stepping down to become the county’s 911 Dispatch Center director.

County Judge Woody Wheeless said they are waiting to hear back from the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office about what to do next.

“The way the process works, is that Ronnie will officially step down as of July 1,” Wheeless said.

“The Quorum Court will then have to pass a resolution declaring his seat vacant at our July meeting.”

Wheeless said the county will then have to submit a list of names to Governor Asa Hutchinson who will then appoint somebody to serve the remainder of the term until an election can be called.

Wheeless said he plans to notify the local Republican and Democrat parties of the vacancy so they can line up candidates interested in running.

“I will let them know there is an opening so people will have time to run for that position,” Wheeless said.

Sturch held the seat for the past six years. While on the Quorum Court, Sturch served as chairman of the buildings committee and was instrumental in overseeing the renovation of the former health department building into offices for the county’s two circuit court judges as well as the renovation of new offices in the county building for the election commission which saved the county thousands of dollars in rent. He was also a budget hawk who closely kept tabs on the county’s funds.

Wheeless said he is hopeful the county can piggyback that election with the general election scheduled for November.

“If we can do it with the general election it won’t end up costing us any extra money,” Wheeless said.

By Mark Randall