Incumbents win reelection in Fort Smith city director races, Blatt gets narrow win in Circuit Judge race

It was year of the incumbents in two Fort Smith city director races as Ward 2 Director André Good and Ward 4 Director George Catsavis retained their positions Tuesday night (Nov. 8) by comfortable double-digit margins.

Good bested challenger Bruce Wade by a margin of 55% to 45%, a difference in actual votes of 320 (1,812-1,492). Previously Good had served on the seven-director Board for two consecutive terms and half of another. In comments to Talk Business & Politics Tuesday night, he admitted he was “thankful for the win, and appreciate the voters came out and reelected me,” but said he was “a little disappointed” with the margin.”

“I’m looking at the vote nationwide, and every vote is just about close. I think it’s a reflection that people want change, but change doesn’t come from politicians. It comes from the people, and more need to get out and have their say,” he said.

Good said though he may have been “disheartened because of the closeness of the race, it doesn’t matter if I win by one vote or 1,000 votes, my work ethic will be the same. I’m still going to go out there tomorrow and do my best for the community as a whole. It’s the way I conduct business.”

Wade did not respond to messages seeking comment.

In the Ward 4 race, Catsavis managed a victory over challenger Martin, garnering 5,559 votes to Martin’s 4,381 (a 56%-44% margin). Martin had the backing of September’s primary candidate Robyn Dawson, and while falling short of Catsavis in the earlier race, he kept the incumbent below the 50% of votes needed to avoid a runoff. That forced Catsavis into November, but despite Dawson’s endorsement — which theoretically could have given Martin enough support to win — Catsavis’ get-out-the-vote effort was enough to keep his seat.

“It was every day,” said Catsavis of his campaign from the September primary to Election Night. “If I wasn’t working, I was campaigning, putting up signs and going door-to-door. I haven’t slept the last two nights, so this is like the weight of the world has been lifted.”

Catsavis believes people “trust me with their vote, and know I’m going to do what’s best for them. I think they realize that. I’m not going to raise their taxes, and I’ll stand for accountability and transparency.”

Catsavis’ opponent agreed with the incumbent’s assessment of the race, telling Talk Business & Politics: “I think George is a guy a lot of people are comfortable and familiar with, and he’s a really good guy. I got a chance to talk with him during the race. They’ve liked him and know what they’ve got. He’s responsive to folks. I think he’s served them, and they’ve liked having him.”

Martin continued: “I hope that what our race did, was show folks they have somebody who wants to help lead our city forward. I just want to do everything I can to help Fort Smith prosper and grow.”

Following are results in other area races of interest.

STATE REP. DISTRICT 77
Rep. Justin Boyd (R): 72%
Stephen Edwards (L): 28%

CIRCUIT JUDGE, DIST. 12, DIV. 3
Shannon Blatt: 50.63%
Dianna Hewitt Ladd: 49.37%

GREENWOOD ALDERMAN WARD 1, POSITION 2
Rod Powell: 58%
Bill Risner: 42%

BONANZA ALDERMAN WARD 1, POSITION 2
Karen Littlejohn-Flores: 53%
Ron Norris: 47%

HARTFORD ALDERMAN RACES
Karen Griffin: 69%
Kenneth Zachary: 31%

LaRheta J. Tinsman: 28%
Lanny Woodhull: 72%

Melba Fox-Martin: 45%
Ina Jean Layne: 55%

Note: Crawford County results had not been reported on the county or Secretary of State websites as of 10:30 p.m.