What’s next for Earle?

What’s next for Earle?

Special Election will decide new mayor for city

news@theeveningtimes.com

Now that Earle Mayor Carolyn Jones has been recalled, the city council will next have to pass a resolution to declare the office officially vacant.

But the earliest a new election can be held would be in February.

According to Arkansas law, a special election shall be held no less than 70 days following the date the ordinance or resolution is filed with the county clerk.

“That won’t be until next year,” said Crittenden County Election Commission Chairwoman Dixie Carlson said. “They will need to pass that ordinance calling for a special election.”

Jones was elected in 2014 but was recalled on Tuesday by a vote of 522-239 after a controversial two years in office.

Carlson said although Jones has been recalled, she still holds the office until the election is certified.

“They are without a mayor right now,” Carlson said.

“She is out when we certify the election.”

The election commission has 15 days to certifiy the results.

Carlson said the election commission still has to go through the provisional ballots first before they are ready to certify the election results.

“We have to notify the people who had provisional ballots and give them time for a special hearing,” Carlson said. “Then we will certify that day.”

The election commission will meet on Monday at 4 p.m. to discuss the provisional ballots.

Jones’s term was marked by numerous controversies and generally bad relations with the city council. She got the city banned from applying for Justice Assistance Grants for two years for using a police car as her personal vehicle; was sued for replacing four white police officers with black officers; used a load of city gravel provided by the county on her own driveway; and dipped in to two $50,000 certificate of deposits to pay the city’s bills. Jones claimed that she unjustly took the blame for all of the things which went wrong — including the city’s poor financial state which occurred before she took over — and received no help from the city council.

Resident Early May Wal- lace launched a petition drive which collected over 500 signatures to force the recall.

Earle City Council will meet next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

In other election news, Councilman Charlie Young was re-elected to a second term on the city council.

Young defeated Brenda Morris 164-63.

Incumbent Councilwoman Sarah Johnson will be headed to a runoff against Tyrone Hurst. Hurst outpolled Johnson 90 to 69 with Robert Udell, Sr. garnering 50 votes.

Since no candidate reached the required 50 percent threshold to claim the seat outright, the election will go to a runoff which will be held on Sept. 29.

Johnson admitted she has some work to do, but said she is pleased to get another chance to make her case to voters in the runoff.

“I’m happy,” Johnson said. “I get another shot. I’m just going to have to work real hard. I’m going to be on it.”

Hurst said he is also happy with the results and is looking forward to more campaigning.

“I still have some more work to do,” Hurst said.

By Mark Randall