GOP primary set for Sebastian County Circuit Clerk post

The political filing season is more than seven months away, but a GOP primary for the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk post is already on the schedule.

Denora Coomer, a 28-year veteran of the Sebastian County court system, announced Wednesday (Aug. 17) she will run as a Republican for the Circuit Clerk post now held by Republican Ken Blevins.

Coomer has worked as the Sebastian County Court Administrator for 28 years. She reports to the Circuit Judges and coordinates courtroom operations for the circuit courts and the drug court. Her primary duties include juror management for the Fort Smith and Greenwood districts, felony case management, drug court and budgets for two departments, Courtroom Operations and Drug Court.

“After carefully considering the race, and receiving encouragement from friends and colleagues, I have decided to run for Circuit Clerk,” Coomer said in her statement. “Holding public office is a public trust created by the confidence voters bestow. The efficiency and effectiveness of the circuit clerk’s office depends on this public trust. I believe my experience in Sebastian County government qualifies me to bring leadership and ethics to the office.”

The public trust in the Circuit Clerk’s office has been tested in recent months.

On May 12, a three-member Sebastian County grievance committee ruled that Blevins sexually harassed office employees and created a hostile work environment. The ruling was hollow in that the grievance committee has no enforcement power against an elected official. Following the grievance hearing, Fort Smith attorney David Dunagin filed an action seeking the removal of Blevins from office.

A hearing on the petition to remove Blevins from office is scheduled for 9 a.m., Aug. 25, in the courtroom of Judge James Cox. However, Cox will not preside over the case. All six judges in the Sebastian County Circuit recused themselves from the matter. The Arkansas Supreme Court appointed Miller County Circuit Court Judge Kirk Johnson to the case.

Primary complainants in the case against Blevins are Tyanna Caldwell, Jean Austin and Lynsey Shockley.

In addition to that trial, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is considering action against Blevins. Employees of the Circuit Clerk’s office requested the EEOC consider their complaints against Blevins. The EEOC agreed and followed up with interviews of employees who requested the federal action.

Blevins said Wednesday that barring any negative outcome of the legal actions against him, he plans to seek re-election.

“I doubt I even formally announce. It should be a given that I’m seeking re-election,” Blevins said when asked if he planned a formal announcement.

Cindy Gilmer, a former deputy with many years in the Circuit Clerk’s office, ran as a Democrat in 2010 and was defeated by Blevins. Gilmer said she will not run again for the position.

Lee Webb, chairman of the Sebastian County Democratic Party, said he does not yet know of anyone interested in running as a Democrat for the Circuit Clerk job.

“But we will try to find someone for that post,” Webb said Wednesday.

Coomer is a member of the National Association for Court Management, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the Arkansas Drug Court Professionals Association, and the Sebastian County Republican Committee.

Coomer and her husband of 32 years, Lowell, have two children, Jeremiah Coomer, U.S. Air Force para-rescue, serving in Japan; and Cheyanne Coomer Plunkett, elementary coach with the Fayetteville School District. They have five grandchildren.