The week-long filing period for the upcoming school board election ended at noon Friday and there are six contested positions across Faulkner County, according to County Clerk Melinda Reynolds.
Although the filing period was shortened this year, Reynolds said six races throughout the county are more than normal in a school board election.
"We usually have a seat in every school district to come up for election every year, but this is the most candidates I've seen file in quite a number of years," Reynolds said Friday.
Reynolds said the shortening of the filing period was a decision made by the legislature, which she thinks was done to give the election commissions and county clerks' offices more time to prepare for the election, which will take place Sept. 16.
Although the filing period was quicker than normal, she said with six contested seats, that obviously did not hinder the decisions of Faulkner County residents.
"That change didn't affect them here at all, maybe it even helped them make their minds up faster as to whether they would run or not," Reynolds said.
The complete filings for each contested position by ballot order are as listed:
Mt. Vernon-Enola School District Board of Education, Zone 2 Wayne Beene (incumbent) and James A. Tony Beene Jr.
Mayflower School District Board of Education, Position 5 Sherilee Holland and Terry L. Jones (incumbent).
Vilonia School District Board of Education, Position 3 Scott Newell, Darrel "Butch" Money and Phillip Toll. Newell resigned from this position during the board's July meeting.
Vilonia School District Board of Education, Position 7 Jerry Roberts and Kathy French. Roberts resigned from this position during the board's July meeting.
Greenbrier School District Board of Education, Position 4 George Roberts (incumbent), Kenneth Rasure and Jason Squires.
Conway School District Board of Education, At-Large Position 5 Ron Hill, Dr. Adam Lamey and Glenn Dunham. The incumbent, Dr. Terry Fiddler, did not file for re-election.
There will also be four uncontested seats on the September ballots and are as follows:
Guy-Perkins School District Board of Education, Zone 4 Greg B. Hooten (incumbent).
Mt. Vernon-Enola School District Board of Education, Zone 1 Michael Brady (incumbent). Brady was appointed to the position in May when Raymond Ivy resigned.
Vilonia School District Board of Education, Position 4 Martin McKissack (incumbent).
Vilonia School District Board of Education, Position 6 Danny Lawrence (incumbent).
According Reynolds, no school district is asking for a millage increase for the 2008-09 school year.
(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
