By Louie Graves
News-Leader staff
Less than one-fourth of eligible Howard County voters participated in last week’s Preferential Primary Election.
The voters that did turn out for the election selected a district Prosecuting Attorney, the Howard County Circuit Clerk and the Howard County Coroner.
Both of the latter races were on the Republican ballot only.
For Circuit Clerk — Jana Tallant, 805 votes; Alana Miller, 449.
For Coroner– Matt Smith, 997; Alan Laxton, 268.
In the non-partisan race for Prosecuting Attorney of the Ninth-West Judicial District encompassing Howard, Pike, Little River and Sevier counties:
(Howard County) Erin Hunter, 1,103; Clayton Tinkes, 318; Jana Bradford, 226. Hunter wins without a runoff; Bradford was the incumbent. The race was on Republican, Democrat and non-partisan ballots. Hunter won in all four counties.
In the statewide non-partisan race for Supreme Court Associate Judge, the county supported winner Nick Bronni.
For state and national offices, Howard County supported eventual winners who will face opponents in November in the General Election.
Last week on Republican ballots, county voters supported Tom Cotton for the U.S. Senate; Bryan Norris for Secretary of State; Cole Jester for Commissioner of State Lands; and Dolly Henley for State Representative of Dist. 88.
County Democrats supported the campaigns of Hallie Shofner for U.S. Senate; Steven Layne O’Donnell for U.S. Congress; Fred Love for Governor.
Howard County has 6,961 eligible voters; and a total of only 1,698 votes were cast on all three ballots. According to the Howard County Clerk’s election roundup, that is 24.39%.
For school millages, voters were ‘against’ in the Cossatot River district, while they were ‘for’ at Nashville, Dierks and Mineral Springs.
The Nashville district millage passed 516-512. Results by county include Howard 449 for, 478 against; Hempstead 64 for, 31 against; and Pike 3 for, 3 against.
Votes against the current millages will not eliminate the millages which will be automatically continue until bonds are paid off.
Howard County Clerk Keri Teague said Monday that the votes had been certified and no numbers were changed.
