Catsavis, Director Dawson matchup for Fort Smith Board set for general election

With no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s (Aug. 9) primary city election, Christina Catsavis and City Director Robyn Dawson will face off once again in November for the Director-at-large Position 5 seat on the Fort Smith Board of Directors.

Catsavis received 960 of the 2,131 votes cast. Dawson garnered 680 and Carl Nevin, a 67-year-old small business owner and factory worker who also ran for the position, received 562 votes, according to the Sebastian County Clerk’s unofficial results.

Because no one received 50.1% of the vote, Catsavis and Dawson will face each other during the Nov. 8 general elections, said Meghan Hassler, Sebastian County Election Coordinator.

Catsavis, 37, is the owner of The Smith Jewelry & Living and co-founder/Designer of Julep Jewelry Co.

“I am so proud of friends and family and all their hard work,” Catsavis said. “Fort Smith has endless potential, and we have five so much work. I look forward to Nov. 8 and continuing that work for Fort Smith.”

Dawson, 59, is the Educational Renewal Zone (ERZ) director at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and an Arkansas PLC specialist. She is the incumbent, having been voted into the position in November 2018.

“I want to thank the people in the community who came out and voted for me today. There are so many great things happening in Fort Smith, and I look forward to seeing you again at the polls in November to keep these great things going,” Dawson said.

Though three Fort Smith Board of Directors Seats are up for election this year, only one seat – Position 5 – had more than two candidates file for the position.The election for the Director-at-large Position 6 seat between incumbent Kevin Settle and A. Drew Smith and the election for the Director-at-large Position 7 seat between incumbent Neal Martin and Jackson Goodwin will also be held during the Nov. 8 general election.