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No special election to fill vacated JP seat

No special election to fill vacated JP seat

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No special election to fill vacated JP seat

Governor appointee will serve remainder of Sturch’s term

news@theeveningtimes.com

Crittenden County will not have to hold a special election to fill the District 12 Quorum Court seat recently vacated by Ronnie Sturch.

Crittenden County Election Commission Chairwoman Dixie Carlson said they were informed by the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners that the vacancy will be filled by the Governor, and that the person appointed will serve out the remainder of Sturch’s unexpired term.

“He (Sturch) was already elected for the next term,” Carlson said. “And because he ran unopposed, the person appointed will serve as a holdover until 2018.”

Sturch, who has held the position for the last six years, surprised the Quorum Court when he announced that he was stepping down to become the county’s 911 Dispatch Center director on July 1.

Officials had sought clarification from the Secretary of State’s Office and were prepared to hold a special election for Sturch’s seat.

Carlson said she called the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners for clarification and was told by their attorney that the Quorum Court has ten days to pass a resolution declaring a vacancy.

Justices then will need to submit a list of names to Governor Asa Hutchinson who will then appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

“I don’t want people getting all excited thinking we are going to have an election,” Carlson said. “I think everybody was just so surprised that this happened.”

By Mark Randall

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