Sebastian County adds election coordinator duties to county’s grants writer position

Sebastian County once again has an election coordinator. Sebastian County Judge Steve Hotz announced Monday (Aug. 12) that Amanda Cravey will take on the duties of election coordinator for the county.

Cravey works in Hotz’s office as the grants writer and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) administrator. Hotz said the county will rewrite her job description to add the election coordinator duties and take away the FOIA duties.

“During the non-election cycle, she can continue her grant-writing duties,” Hotz said.

Carvey’s position is full-time and will stay such, Hotz said. He said he has asked human resources to review Cravey’s salary. That review has not been completed yet, and for now, Cravey’s salary will remain as it has been. Cravey has worked in her position since December 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Hotz said Cravey will need “quite a bit” of training for the new election coordinator duties. She will attend training in Fayetteville Aug. 21 and other training will be planned, he said, adding that training will also need to be scheduled for election poll workers.

Less than 95 days before early voting begins in Arkansas for the general election, the county found itself without the majority of its election coordinator office staff. Meghan Hassler sent a letter of resignation from her position as election coordinator to Hotz on July 19. Three of the remaining four positions in the office also resigned. The following week, the county listed postings for the election coordinator and the programmer on its website.

Hotz said Aug. 8 the county is “probably not going to hire a programmer for this election cycle.” Instead it is working on a contract to have a company provide that service.

“We’ve been talking about things and working things out, but now is the time to get everything lined up,” Hotz said.

The election coordinator supports the election commission and county clerk to administer elections in Sebastian County in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and county operating procedures. This position requires training and/or certifications, according to the county’s website. The responsibilities listed include ensuring staff are informed of changes in election laws, preparing a timeline to conform with election law in advance of each election, and maintaining documentation of the election process, along with many others.

The next elections related deadline for counties is Aug. 22, the day candidates are certified to them, Land said.