Only 3 contested races for 13-member Crawford County Quorum Court

story by Marla Cantrell
[email protected]

Crawford County Judge John Hall is not worried about this year’s election. No one filed to run against him, so it’s business as usual at the courthouse. But even so, Hall, a Democrat, can’t wait for May 18.

“I think it will be the first time in Crawford County history that the Republican Primary spurs more interest than the Democratic Primary,” Hall said. ”In the past, 80 percent would vote in the Democratic Primary and only 20 percent in the Republican in Crawford County. But this year there will be a drastic change, I think, because the interest in the U.S. Senatorial race with Democrat Blanche Lincoln, in the congressional race for U.S. Congressman Boozman’s position and in the state representative’s race that’s here in the city of Van Buren and Kibler.”

Hall’s prediction seems solid.

Lincoln is facing only two Democratic opponents, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and D.C. Morrison. However, there are eight Republicans lined up in the GOP primary. Also, eight Republicans and one Democrat have filed for the 3rd Congressional District race. Two Republicans and one Democrat are battling for the State Representative District 66 race.

While those races are heating up for May, the Crawford County quorum court races won’t be decided until November. There are three open spots and one contested justice of the peace race.

Tom Fite, District 2 Justice of the Peace, is running for the State Representative District 83 seat, being vacated by term-limited Beverly Pyle. Bob Snavely left his District 3 post on the quorum court in August of 2009, after he moved from the area, and Kevin Holmes is leaving District 4 to run in the State Representative District 66 race, also being vacated because of term limits by Rep. Rick Green.

Only one incumbent, District 1 Justice of the Peace Sharon Partain, faces an opponent. 

The 13 members of the quorum court meet once a month.  They are paid $333.33 for each scheduled monthly meeting they attend. If follow up meetings are required, they do not receive additional pay. They do receive mileage at a rate of 42 cents per mile.
The quorum court appropriates all the money in the $15.5 million county operating budget, and passes the county’s laws and ordinances.

Hall said it’s a great system unless a JP wants to be the county judge, or the judge wants to be a JP.

“The county judge can’t tell the court he wants money for a pet project and expect them to fund it just because he wants it,” Hall said. ”Or you can have a quorum court that wants to appropriate money that the judge sees as not necessary or too expensive.”

Hall said he hasn’t had that problem with the Crawford County Quorum Court  The group works well together, discusses problems as they arise and keeps the county moving forward. It’s all a matter of leadership, he says.

“You don’t push a rope, you pull it,” Hall explained.

• Crawford County Quorum Court candidates
District 1
Terry Bibbs (R)
Justice of the Peace Sharon Partain (D)

District 2
Shane Griffin (R)
Clayton McGill (D)

District 3
Jim Atchison (D)
David Rofkahr (R)

District 4
Lloyd Cole (R)

District 5
Justice of the Peace Alan Swaim

District 6
Justice of the Peace Bill Grill (D)

District 7
Justice of the Peace Mary Blount (D)

District 8
James Lane (R)

District 9
Justice of the Peace Stanley Clark (D)

District 10
Justice of the Peace DeWite DeShazo (D)

District 11
Justice of the Peace Christi Haught (R)

District 12
Justice of the Peace Elaina Damante (R)

District 13
Justice of the Peace Butch Barnes