Voters still stand in lines an hour and a half after polls close in Redfield as a recall of the city’s mayor appears to draw residents to the polls late into the night Tuesday. (Special to The Commercial/William Harvey)
UPDATED 1 a.m. — Final totals with 100 percent of precincts reporting showed Lawhon surviving the recall vote. 353 votes against (64 percent)/198 votes for (36 percent)
REDFIELD — Mayor Tony Lawhon, who is in the second year of a four-year term, appeared to have fended off a recall election by press time Tuesday. Meanwhile, a couple of aldermen were positioned to lose their seats to challengers.
Voters reported long lines in Redfield long after the 7:30 p.m. poll closing time. By the 10:30 p.m. Commercial deadline, only early votes for Redfield had been tabulated.
Unofficial results in the recall vote, according to the Secretary of State’s office, were:
• For — 15 votes, 21 percent
• Against — 56 votes, 79 percent
Critics have accused Lawhon of creating discord in the Redfield municipal government. Lawhon has defended his decisions, arguing that change is necessary for the city to move forward.
Rita K. Jackson of 308 River Road, the city recorder-treasurer who was seeking a third term, defeated Beth Dial of 701 Quapaw Drive, wife of Alderman James Danny Dial.
Unofficial results were:
Rita K. Jackson — 48 votes, 72 percent
Beth Dial — 19 votes, 28 percent
Aldermen Races
Glen Flemmons of 408 Arkansas 365 North ran against incumbent James Danny Dial for the Ward 1, Position 1, council seat.
Unofficial results were:
Flemmons — 45 votes, 69 percent
Dial — 20 votes, 31 percent
Carol Eagle of 706 Honeysuckle Hills Court and Charles Derby of 904 Osage Drive faced off for the Ward 1, Position 2, seat held by Alderman John Jones. Jones, the longest serving member of the council, did not seek re-election.
Unofficial results were:
Eagle — 47 votes, 73 percent
Derby — 17 votes, 27 percent
Alderman Brenda Carmical of 814 River Road, the Ward 2, Position 1, incumbent was positioned at deadline to fall to a challenge by Sandra G. Garrett of 403 Rhoads, who currently holds the Ward 2, Position 2, council seat.
Unofficial results were:
Carmical — 15 votes, 23 percent
Garrett — 49 votes, 77 percent
Larry O’Briant of 712 Schoolwood Cove and Roben K. Brooks of 100 N. Brodie St. ran for Garrett’s open Ward 2, Position 2, seat on the council.
Unofficial results were:
O’Briant — 44 votes, 69 percent
Brooks — 20 votes, 31 percent
Diann Smith of 1009 Eddie Lane and Deborah Houston of 1128 Ruby Drive ran for the Ward 3, Position 1, seat held by Alderman Barbara Werner, who did not seek re-election.
Unofficial results were:
Smith — 39 votes, 62 percent
Brooks — 24 votes, 38 percent
Alderman Darrell Hedden of 1209 Ruby Drive***, sought re-election to the Ward 3, Position 2, council seat and was opposed by Adell Newton of 1304 Kelly Court.
Unofficial results were:
Hedden — 40 votes, 63 percent
Newton — 23 votes, 37 percent
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This article has been corrected from its original version to fix an incorrect address.