Incumbents win legislative races in Fort Smith metro

Following Tuesday (Nov. 3) general elections, long-term incumbents will continue to work for the concerns of the Fort Smith metro area to the state legislature. Rep. Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith, said he was humbled that the citizens of the district put their faith back in him to represent them in the state legislature.

“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of District 77 as their state representative,” he said. “I am excited to start a productive and meaningful 2021 session.”

Unofficial results Tuesday night had Boyd with almost 68% of the votes over Libertarian challenger, Stephen Edwards.

Boyd said some of the things he hopes to work on in the next session include looking at the scope of practice of pharmacy technicians, online voter registration, law enforcement issues. Those issues possibly outlawing the use of a chokehold by police, something that the Fort Smith Police Department did a decade ago, he said. He also wants to look at duty to intervene, parole equity and criminal record sealing for non-violent crimes.

Rep. Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren, another incumbent with a strong lead in Tuesday’s reported numbers, said she was humbled, blessed and honored that voters of District 80 put their confidence in” her. Tuesday results had Fite with an 85.6% lead over her Democratic challenger Lou Reed Sharp.

Fite said she is already working on a few bills to prefile later in November including a package for the Arkansas Association for the death and one for the Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Following are returns from legislative races in and connected to the Fort Smith metro.

District 74
Rep. Jon Eubanks, R-Paris: 8,539 (83%)
June Anteski (D): 1,749 (17%)

District 76
Rep. Cindy Crawford, R-Fort Smith: 9,044 (70.53%)
Caleb Harwell (D): 3,779 (29.47%)

District 77
Rep. Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith: 7,179 (67.62%)
Stephen Edwards (L): 3,438 (32.38%)

District 80
Rep. Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren: 2,528 (85.64%)
Lou Reed Sharp (D): 424 (14.36%)

District 82
Mark Berry (R): 4,916 (68.24%)
Gwen Ford Faulkenberry (D): 2,288 (31.76%)