Redistricting may have caused some problems in early voting, but according to the precincts and polling places for the upcoming primary elections, the only changes St. Francis County voters will see will come in their actual precinct numbers.
An increase in precincts from the mid 60's to over 100 caused members of the St. Francis County Election Commission to reformat precincts countywide. Commissioners did this by separating the precincts through the use of hyphenated numbers along with the original precinct numbers.
Polling locations for the Tuesday, May 21, election will remain as they were in 2000 and are as follows:
Hughes City/Country, precinct numbers 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4 and Rawlison, precinct numbers 5-1 and 5-2, voting in the Hughes Community Center.
Heth-Blackfish, precinct numbers 6-2, 7-1, 7-2 and 7-3 voting in the Blackfish Community Center.
Widener, precinct numbers 9-1, 9-2 and 10-1 voting in Widener City Hall.
Round Pond-Mosley, precinct numbers 11-1, 11-2, 13-1 and 13-2 voting in
Madison, precinct numbers 14-1, 14-2, 14-3, 14-4, 14-5, 15-1, 15-2, 15-3 and 15-4, voting at Madison City Hall.
Bonair-Tuni, precinct numbers 16-1, 17-1, 17-2 and 17-3, voting at the Kountry Kitchen.
Parrot-Newcastle, precinct numbers 18-1 and 19-1, voting at Forrest Chapel Fellowship Hall.
Colt, precinct numbers 20-1 and 21-1, voting at the Colt Community Center.
Caldwell, precinct numbers 22-1 and 23-1, voting at the Caldwell Fire Station.
Courthouse East and West, precinct numbers 24-1, 25-1, 25-2, 25-3, 25-4 and 26-1, voting at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Pine Tree- precinct numbers 27-1, 27-2, 27-3 and 27-4, voting at the University of Arkansas Experiment Station.
Palestine City/Country, precinct numbers 28-1, 29-1, 29-2, 29-3, 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-4, 31-1, 31-3, voting at Twin Assembly Fellowship Hall.
Goodwin, precinct numbers 32-1, 32-2 and 32-3, voting at Goodwin Baptist Church.
Wheatley City/Country, precinct numbers 33-1, 33-2, 34-1, 34-2, 34-3, voting at Wheatley Community Center.
Forrest City Ward #1, precinct numbers 35-1, 35-2, 36-1, 37-1, 38-1 and 58-1, voting at Christ Church.
Forrest City Ward #2, precinct numbers 39-1, 41-1, 43-1, 43-2, 45-1 and 47-1, voting at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Forrest City Ward #3, precinct numbers 49-1, 50-2, 50-3, 50-4, 51-1, 52-1, 52-2, 53-1, 53-2, 54-1, 55-2 and 55-3, voting at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Forrest City Ward #4, precinct numbers 56-1, 56-2, 57-1, 57-2, 60-1, 65-1, 66-1 and 66-2, voting in the Forrest City Civic Center.
Early voting and absentee voting has been taking place at the St. Francis County Courthouse in the Election Commission office in the breezeway from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Early and absentee voting will also take place Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and conclude on Monday at 4:30 p.m. The primary election will be held Tuesday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Brent Ponder of 124 Cardinal Drive in Forrest City, has announced his candidacy for election to the city council as alderman for Ward 3, Position 2, subject to the Nov. 5 general election.
Ponder explained why he is seeking the city government position.
"I was fortunate in having the opportunity to grow up here and I want to preserve and build on the good things about our community for present and future generations," he said. "A progressive future for our community depends on city government working with its citizens to move forward. I am eager to work with and service the people of Ward 3 and all Forrest Citians as a member of their City Council."
Ponder, 25, is self employed. He is a partner with his brother Jeff in J&B Properties, a residential rental business in Forrest City. He graduated from Forrest City High School in the Class of 1995 and subsequently completed a bachelor's degree in business management from Arkansas State University.
He is a member of the Forrest City Masonic Lodge and the East Arkansas Scottish Rite Bodies, and is a 32-degree Mason.
Ponder stated, "I believe in campaigning positively and on the issues. I invite the voters to share their concerns with me during the campaign, and more importantly, I will encourage and welcome their input on conducting the business of the city after the election is over. I ask the voters to remember me, Brent Ponder, on election day, Nov. 5, and I will definitely not forget them during my tenure in office."
St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin is being challenged in the May 21 Democratic Primary by Tammy Talley.
Harbin, 52, lives at 253 Lexington in Forrest City. A graduate of Forrest City High School, she says she has "many hours" of continuing education through the Arkansas Treasurers Association. She and her husband John have two grown children and five grandchildren.
Talley, of Forrest City, is 34. She is a mother and housewife, who went to trade school after completing high school. She and her husband Tommy have two children at home, 10-year-old Caleb and 6-year-old Cody.
Each candidate was asked the same set of questions, as follows.
1. If elected, what changes would you make to this office?
Harbin: "I don't see any changes that I would make to the office. I will continue to have an open door policy and continue the service I have given to the citizens of St. Francis County during these last several years."
Talley: "The same ones I've always been saying -- making sure the office is completely computerized."
2. In your opinion, what services need improvements?
Talley: "Computerizing. Making sure the office is computerized. Making sure the quorum court members have accurate financial statements."
Harbin: "At this time, I don't see any services that need improving. I have tried in the past to provide the information to the quorum court and the citizens of St. Francis County, considering the financial status of the county. All my records and accounting are on computer at this time. I would like in the future to upgrade some of my computer equipment, but at the present time, with the county watching our expenditures and as a steward of the county's money, I do not see it necessary at this time."
3. What do you think is the most urgent issue facing counties today, St. Francis County in particular?
Harbin: "I believe we face, across the State of Arkansas and particularly in St. Francis County, the appropriation cuts that have been done by the state. This is due to the governor cutting out appropriations in the state budget. We as a county had to revise our revenues and expenditures during the past year."
Talley: "I would say the finances."
4. What type of experience do you have with budgets?
Talley: "I've worked with budgets for the past 10 years. I did the accounts payable and the payroll in the County Clerk's office."
Harbin: "I have over 15 years experience in the Treasurer's office. I have been involved with the quorum court, the budget committee, the county judge and the county clerk in working together to prepare the budgets for the county. I feel with my knowledge of the operation of the Treasurer's office, and my experience, that I have the knowledge to operate the Treasurer's office."
5. Why are you the best candidate for the job?
Harbin: "I feel I have the knowledge and the experience to be reelected as your St. Francis County Treasurer. I attend education programs thorough the County Treasurers Association to keep abreast of all the laws that govern the Treasurer's office and that are related to county government. I feel that through this knowledge and experience, That I will better serve you, the citizens of St. Francis County."
Talley: "Because I'm hard working. And I will work for the people."
6. How would your election benefit the residents of St. Francis County?
Talley: "I would be there to serve the people. I would make sure their finances, their tax money, was spent wisely, and make sure the money is put in the best accounts."
Harbin: "I will continue to be a servant to the citizens of St. Francis County. My office is more than just the Treasurer's office. It is an information center, and I will continue to make myself available at all times and to be a servant for them and to help them in any way that I can."
7. What word or phrase best describes yourself?
Harbin: "Respectable."
Talley: "Friendly."
With the primary election looming Tuesday, candidates for the position of Circuit Judge, Division 5 checked in with the Times-Herald, this week for one-on-one interviews.
Incumbent Baird Kinney, 48, of Forrest City, is a lifelong Forrest Citian, and is the husband of Debbie Kinney. The couple have two children. Kinney practiced law in Forrest City for 10 years prior to becoming the juvenile judge with his father Knox Kinney and is currently in his 12th year as Circuit Judge. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Little Rock where he received a degree in political science and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 1980.
Kinney's opposition, Phillips County Deputy Prosecutor Todd Murray, is in his 10th year practicing law and is the father of two and the husband of Nita Murray. He received a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and received his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Little Rock.
The candidates answered several questions, and their answers are as follows:
If elected, what changes would you make to this office?
Kinney: "We would want to continue to hear the same cases that we've been hearing such as child abuse and all matters concerning juveniles, but with some of the changes all district judges can hear most cases. There were exceptions to the rule that allow Division 5 judges to only hear primarily juvenile cases. We want to continue to do the things that we have been doing for the citizens of the district."
Murray: "The first thing that I would evaluate is the time element. I've spent 10 1/2 years as a prosecutor and I fell like we can make things more efficient. I would also take a close look at some alternative sentencing because I don't think that traditional methods can be used all the time and I'm one of those people that likes to think outside of the box. We can use plans such as bracelets that will track children instead of always sentencing them to probation or sending them to detention camps. We have to find a way of effectively rehabilitating the youth so that we can best protect society. There has to be an answer."
In your opinion, what services need improvements?
Murray: "Under the new plan, the four other judges are called upon to hear about 2,500 cases while juvenile judges only hear about 1,300. Prosecutors have always called juvenile judges super-judges because of the different things they are called on to handle. With the backlog of cases if we could handle the juvenile docket more efficiently then we could help out with the adult docket. If one or two cases go to trial with the juvenile judge because of the flow of things then the entire court system is improving."
Kinney: "In juvenile court we don't face the problems with overcrowding of the docket that they face in adult court. We are currently holding adult court in Lee, Cross, Monroe and Woodruff counties where we help with plea and arraignment cases and fill in the gaps where available. We also hear a lot of mental health cases and I would like to see our role increased to help alleviate some of the docket problems facing circuit court."
What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the court system today?
Kinney: "The deterioration of the family directly attributed to crystal methamphetamine and other drug problems are really the largest issue with our children. The problems which seize the parents abilities to reason are forcing children into foster care and into environments that lead them in the wrong direction. We have to try to work with other agencies to get these parents help so that we can save the children and keep them out of the system."
Murray: "I think that our dockets are overcrowded and that's the largest problem facing our court systems. It's hard for a person to get a speedy trial because each judge has such a large caseload. If you have one murder case involving four different defendants that could take up the majority of a year to handle and what does that do for the other people that are waiting to go before the judge."
Why are you the best candidate for the job?
Murray: "There are a number of reasons but I feel that I am very sincere and dedicated in everything that I do. I don't like to limit myself to what I think. I have 11 years of experience dealing with the juvenile system and I am very familiar with the way that it works. I feel that my experience plus my ability to read people are things that are necessary for making a good judge."
Kinney: "I can bring experience and a judicial temperament to the stand that my previous terms have taught me. You can relate this to the difference in baseball thinking to that of an umpire and a coach. I'm more of an umpire, looking at the rules and abiding by them instead of holding one interest at hand. I can look over the entire situation and make a decision based on law. That's what you have to do in this position."
What word or phrase best describes yourself?
Kinney: "The words that best describe me would probably be fair but firm. I also feel that I am aware of the sensibilities of those around me that are affected by my decisions. This is a job to me and it's something that I do every day, but to those that appear before me, many times it's the most important event in their lives and you have to be sensitive to that."
Murray: "I feel that I am fair and a good communicator and very sincere and honest. If I tell a person something then they can pretty much bank on my word."
The Forrest City City Council will meet Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. in city hall.
Included on the agenda are a resolution making changes in the personnel policy handbook and second reading of an ordinance regarding itinerant vendors. There will also be first reading of an ordinance on water and sewer revenue bonds.
The St. Francis County Museum will sponsor a community fish fry Saturday, May 18 from 4-8 p.m.
The ticket price is $10. Politicians have also been invited to make campaign speeches. Proceeds will go to benefit the museum.
Saturday's Adopt-A-Pet, sponsored by the Forrest City Area Humane Society, has been cancelled until further notice.