FORT SMITH - We now know who will be on the 2018 ballots as the filing window to run for local, state, and federal offices has come to a close.
The Fort Smith Mayoral race is set between State Representative George McGill and UAFS student Luis Andrade. The ballot was shaping up to be a three-way affair after City Director Don Hutchings announced a bid for the seat, but he withdrew earlier this week citing increased commitments in his role as the pastor of Evangel Temple.
Another three-way race will be the Sebastian County Sheriff’s race, which opened up following the retirement of current Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck. Hobe Runion, a current Sheriff’s Department employee, veteran FSPD administrator Jarrard Copeland, and Randy McFadden will vie for the office.
The race for Sebastian County Judge will be contested as Republican incumbent David Hudson draws an opponent in Democrat Ken Blevins.
Congressman Steve Womack (R-Rogers) draws a primary opponent in Northwest Arkansas Pastor Robb Ryerse. Joshua Mahony has filed for the third district seat as a Democrat, along with Libertarian Michael Kalagias.
In the Arkansas State Senate, Senator Gary Stubblefield will run unopposed, while political veterans Denny Altes and State Rep. Mat Pitsch will face off in an August 14th election to fill the unexpired term of Senator Jake Files who resigned after pleading guilty to criminal charges in early February.
In State House District 76, Republicans Cindy Crawford and Kelly Proctor-Pierce will battle for the seat currently occupied by Rep. Mat Pitsch, who is running in the aforementioned race to replace Senator Jake Files.
In District 80, incumbent Rep. Charlene Fite will have a Libertarian opponent in Casey Copeland who filed for the seat earlier this week.
