Voters decide judicial elections in Benton, Washington counties; runoff needed in two races

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect updated vote totals in a race for a district court judge position (District 2, Division 4) in Washington County.

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Conrad Odom and Diane Warren will need a runoff election to decide the winner of a newly created juvenile judge position serving Washington and Madison counties.

The two candidates were the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s nonpartisan election for the Circuit Court Judge of the new 8^th Division of the Fourth Judicial District.

State legislators created the new position, which has been approved to hear juvenile and family cases, because of the population growth in the district. The Fourth Judicial Circuit now has seven circuit judges.

In order to win outright, one of the candidates needed to secure 50% of the vote. With five candidates campaigning for the job, a runoff was widely expected.

With all 154 precincts reporting, according to the Washington County Election Commission, unofficial final election results looked like this:

• Diane Warren: 10,059 (28.5%)
• Tim Snively: 6,828 (19.3%)
• Mieka Hatcher: 4,908 (13.92%)
• Brian Hogue: 5,020 (14.24%)
• Conrad Odom: 8,445 (23.95%)

Neither Warren nor Odom could be reached for comment. The runoff election is Nov. 3. The winner will begin a six-year term on the bench starting Jan. 1, 2021. Circuit judges earn an annual salary of $172,298

Also in Washington County, in Division 3 of the Fourth Judicial District, Circuit Judge Stacey Zimmerman easily won a fifth term on the bench. She defeated challenger Robert L. Depper III by a final vote of 27,304 to 8,505 (76.3%-23.7%).

In a race featuring three political newcomers, Terra Stephenson, a deputy prosecutor in Washington County, and attorney Mark Scalise will need a runoff Nov. 3 to determine a six-year term as a district court judge (District 2, Division 4). Stephenson finished 1ith 17,566 votes (49%) and Scalise had 13,692 votes (39%). David Phillips trailed with 4,026 votes (11%).

The race will determine who fills the seat on the bench held by Judge William Storey, who is retiring.

Benton County voters decided two judicial races. One of them is also a new circuit court judgeship, in the 19^th Judicial District, that was created by the state legislature to handle a larger caseload with a growing population.

In the new position, Division 7, Bentonville lawyer Christine Horwart defeated Rogers attorney Tony Noblin 21,138 to 17,199 (55.1%-44.9%).

In a race for a district court judgeship in Siloam Springs (District 1, Division 3), Siloam Springs attorney A.J. Anglin defeated David Bailey, a longtime prosecutor for the Siloam Springs court, 20,324-16,527 (55.1%-44.9%)

ARKANSAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
In the race for the House District 90 seat, state Rep. Jana Della Rosa, R-Rogers, who is seeking her fourth term, will face Kendon Underwood in a March 31 runoff for the Republican primary. District 90 encompasses south-central Benton County and includes portions of Rogers, Bethel Heights, Cave Springs, Lowell and Springdale.

On Tuesday, Della Rosa received 1,503 votes, or 43.3% of the vote, while Underwood received 1,249 votes, or 36% of the vote. In Arkansas, a runoff is required by state law if no candidate receives a 50% majority of the vote. The two candidates with the most votes will be in the runoff. The third candidate in the race, Chris Latimer, received 722 votes, or 20.8% of the vote.

In the 2018 primary, Della Rosa defeated Underwood by three votes. The winner in the runoff will face Democrat Kelly Krout in the Nov. 3 general election. Della Rosa received 66% of the vote when she faced a Democrat in the 2018 election. Early voting for the runoff starts March 23.

Other Republican primary results from Benton and Washington counties are listed below

ARKANSAS HOUSE
District 91*
Jorge Becker: 763 (22.1%)
Scott Richardson: 1,530 (44.4%)
Delia Haak: 1,150 (33.4%)
District 94
Adrienne Woods: 938 (48%)
John P. Carr: 1,019 (52%)
*Runoff election between Richardson and Haak on March 31. Early voting begins March 24.

BALLOT ISSUES
Voters approved a 0.25% sales tax increase in Washington County by a vote of 24,466 to 13,785 (64%-36%). The increase will fund a new communications system and facilities for firefighters, police and other emergency services within Washington County.

In Bella Vista, voters also approved two bond issues. Fire improvement bonds up to $5.5 million with a pledge of 1% local sales and use tax passed 5,145-2,663 (65.9%-34.1%). Public safety improvement bonds up to $18.8 million with a pledge of 1% local sales and use tax passed 5,026-2,768 (64.5%-35.5%).

Editor’s note: Jeff Della Rosa contributed to this report.