Fayetteville Mayor Jordan re-elected, Wood wins Washington County Judge job

Lioneld Jordan rolled to a third term as Fayetteville’s mayor in the general election on Tuesday (Nov. 8), and voters chose Republican nominee Joseph Wood to fill the open chair in the Washington County judge’s office.

Jordan, who was first elected mayor in 2008, defeated political newcomers Tom Terminella and Ron Baucom without a runoff. The final tally was Jordan 22,803; Terminella, 8,935 and Baucom, 1,067.

Terminella, a local real estate developer, ran an aggressive campaign contending that the city has a hostile climate toward businesses that drives them to Springdale and Benton County. Jordan disputed the assertion and noted the establishment of many large and small businesses in the city, particularly startup enterprises. He said developing the city in “the Fayetteville way” should include such policies as streamside and hillside protection ordinances.

Four the the eight city council seats were at stake. The results were:
• Ward 1, Position 2: Alderman Sarah Marsh defeated challenger Paul Phaneuf, the owner of Liberty Consulting LLC, by a vote of 4,633 to 2,414. Marsh was first elected to her first council term four years ago.

• Ward 2, Position 2: Alderman Matthew Petty beat challenger Gary McHenry, a Washington County justice of the peace. Petty is completing his second four-year term on the council. The tally was Petty, 3,484, and McHenry, 1,198. Adam Fire Cat, who dropped out of the race a few weeks ago, was still listed on the ballot and got 1,133 votes.

• Ward 3, Position 2: In a three-way race for an open seat, Tracy Hoskins and Sarah Bunch will meet in a Nov. 29 runoff. Bunch led with 4,183 votes to Hoskins’ 3,119 and Benjamin Harrison’s 1,350. Hoskins is a real estate developer and a member of the city planning commission. Bunch is a real estate agent and Harrison is a youth minister.

• Ward 4, Position 2: Alderman Alan Long, seeking election to a second term, defeated Nathan Allen, a minister and missions consultant, by 4,383 to 3,502.

SPRINGDALE
Springdale had four city council seats on the ballot. Mayor Doug Sprouse was unopposed in his bid for re-election. The council seat results were:
• Ward 1, Position 2: Alderman Eric Ford, a 14-year veteran of the council, will face Colby Fulfer in a Nov. 29 runoff. The vote was Fulfer, 7,146; Ford, 7,042, and Paul Hughes, 2,079.

• Ward 2, Position 2: Alderman Rick Evans, who was first elected to the council in 1998, was re-elected by defeating Ray Dotson, 10,431 to 6,242. Dotson is a former alderman.

• Ward 3, Position 2: Alderman Jeff Watson, who has been on the council for 18 years, will face Kathryn Birkhead in a runoff. The totals were Watson, 6,660; Birkhead, 4,583; Mike Nelson, 2,738, and Christopher Pryor, 2,343.

• Ward 4, Position 2: Alderman Kathy Jaycox, an 18-year city council veteran,  defeated Jeremy Lynch, 9,015 to 7,215.

WASHINGTON COUNTY
In the county judge’s race, Wood, the Republican candidate, prevailed over Mark Kinion, a Democrat who is a Fayetteville city alderman, 44,103 to 35,363. Joseph Wood will succeed County Judge Marilyn Edwards, who did not seek re-election.

Wood, who has been a deputy secretary of state for five years, was nominated by the county party’s committee after Micah Neal resigned his nomination during the summer to move to Benton County. Kinion, who recently retired as president of Bio-Tech Pharmacal, ran a high-profile campaign of appearing at numerous civic events for several months.

In a highly visible race for county assessor, Republican incumbent Russell Hill was re-elected over Democratic nominee Carol Waddle, a senior vice president at Signature Bank, by 47,429 to 31,689. Hill has served two years in the position.

Farmington and Greenland both voted to legalize alcohol sales in their cities. In Farmington the measure was approved 1,852 to 969. In Greenland it passed 350 to 136.

LEGISLATURE
Two House seats were at stake in Washington County.

In House District 85 in Fayetteville, incumbent Democratic Rep. David Whitaker won over Republican challenger Dwight Gonzales, 7,420 to 6,670. Whitaker was seeking a third term.

In a contest for a seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Micah Neal in Springdale’s House District 89, Republican candidate Jeff Williams beat Democratic candidate Irvin Camacho, 2,813 to 2,194. Williams is a former Washington County assessor.