Like sands through the hourglass, so are elections of our lives as counting and voting are still not done in this never-ending year.
First, the results from the General Election were certified on Tuesday night at the Pulaski County Election Commission and Maumelle Ward 1, Pos. 1 race saw more ballots cast as LJ Wesley and Barry Brown each gained four more votes.
Barry Brown and LJ Wesley
Brown's count increased to 687, or 24.7 percent, while Wesley finished with 1,176 of 42.29 percent. It doesn't change the fact that there will be a runoff on Tuesday, Dec. 3 as the margin is still under 20 percent,
Michael Chastain's tally didn't change and he finished with 591 votes or 21.25 percent.
Chastain told ArkansasNewsroom.com that he endorsed Brown in the runoff race against Wesley and that he "Was surprised by razor-thin margin" but found the whole process educational.
A former POA head, this was Chastain's first foray into electoral politics.
Runoff elections are all about turnout as the vote counts tend to be low, especially in a single run-off that Maumelle will be having.
For comparison's sake, North Little Rock has many runoff elections, mostly in Ward 3 and for Mayor, but in 1994, Murry Witcher defeated Steve Goss, 31-26 in a Ward 4 race. Also, it is really important to vote for yourself as in one runoff election for Mayor in Alexander, the winning candidate won 31-0, meaning his own opponent either didn't vote, or voted for the winner.
"I’ve already hit the ground running," Wesley said of her runoff strategy. "I plan on continuing to stay in contact with my supporters, and encouraging them to return to the polls."
Wesley said her focus would continue to be "family, community, public safety and transparency" and "my only agenda is to serve people and help solve problems. I hope to keep my neighbors engaged and encouraged through this Runoff Election and Holiday season."
She added that she'll, "continue with community events, visibility, advertising, social media campaigning and direct voter contacts."
Brown was a bit wordier in response to ArkansasNewsroom.com’s questions. His responses, lightly edited and formatted for publication are below.
How do you plan to approach campaigning on the short schedule that is a runoff?
My campaign for the runoff election will continue as it has since the beginning. This is by relying on my family, friends, neighbors, and mentors to work hard and focus on getting my message out to the voters in Ward 1. We will continue to meet with as many voters as possible in the time we have. This means attending community events, knocking on doors, and having meaningful conversations with residents to ensure they are confident about my performing the job of Maumelle City Council member. We will also leverage digital platforms and social media to continue to share my vision for Maumelle and connect with voters who may not be able to meet in person. Most importantly, I'll continue emphasizing the core values of my campaign: safety first, thoughtful development, and fiscal responsibility-always.
Are there any areas, in terms of campaign issues, that you plan to focus on?
Yes, my focus remains on the key issues that matter most to Maumelle residents: Safety First, Thoughtful Development, and Fiscal Responsibility-Always. Safety is always a priority, ensuring our police and fire departments are well-supported and prepared for the city's needs. Thoughtful development means advocating for balanced growth that aligns with our community's character and opposing overreliance on high-density housing. Fiscal responsibility involves making smart financial decisions to keep Maumelle thriving without over-burdening taxpayers. These issues are the foundation of my campaign and will continue to be my focus throughout the runoff election.
Winning a runoff is all about turnout. How do you plan to get your voters out either early, or on the runoff Election Day?
Getting voters to the polls is critical, and we plan to focus on grassroots efforts to make it happen. We will personally reach out to as many supporters as possible, reminding them of the importance of their vote in this runoff election. My team will also use phone calls, emails, and social media to keep voters informed about early voting and Election Day details. This runoff is about showing up, and we’ll do everything we can to motivate and mobilize our supporters to make their voices heard.
Anything else you'd like to add?
The decision to vote is left to my fellow residents of Ward 1. Remember…...Your Vote, Your Voice, Your Maumelle. Vote Barry Brown.
Early voting information
Early voting will be Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, with Monday, Dec. 2 to follow. Early voting will be held at the Jess Odom Community Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. those three days. The Election Commission said that no voting will be held Thursday and Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Early voting can also be done at the Election Commission building in downtown Little Rock, if that’s more convenient for voters.
Election Day voting information
Election Day for the Maumelle Ward 1, Pos. 1 race will be Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Polling location are:
5 - Hampton Inn of Maumelle, 11920 Maumelle Boulevard, Maumelle
6- Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle
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Runoff draws near
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Like sands through the hourglass, so are elections of our lives as counting and voting are still not done in this never-ending year.
First, the results from the General Election were certified on Tuesday night at the Pulaski County Election Commission and Maumelle Ward 1, Pos. 1 race saw more ballots cast as LJ Wesley and Barry Brown each gained four more votes.
Brown's count increased to 687, or 24.7 percent, while Wesley finished with 1,176 of 42.29 percent. It doesn't change the fact that there will be a runoff on Tuesday, Dec. 3 as the margin is still under 20 percent,
Michael Chastain's tally didn't change and he finished with 591 votes or 21.25 percent.
Chastain told ArkansasNewsroom.com that he endorsed Brown in the runoff race against Wesley and that he "Was surprised by razor-thin margin" but found the whole process educational.
A former POA head, this was Chastain's first foray into electoral politics.
Runoff elections are all about turnout as the vote counts tend to be low, especially in a single run-off that Maumelle will be having.
For comparison's sake, North Little Rock has many runoff elections, mostly in Ward 3 and for Mayor, but in 1994, Murry Witcher defeated Steve Goss, 31-26 in a Ward 4 race. Also, it is really important to vote for yourself as in one runoff election for Mayor in Alexander, the winning candidate won 31-0, meaning his own opponent either didn't vote, or voted for the winner.
"I’ve already hit the ground running," Wesley said of her runoff strategy. "I plan on continuing to stay in contact with my supporters, and encouraging them to return to the polls."
Wesley said her focus would continue to be "family, community, public safety and transparency" and "my only agenda is to serve people and help solve problems. I hope to keep my neighbors engaged and encouraged through this Runoff Election and Holiday season."
She added that she'll, "continue with community events, visibility, advertising, social media campaigning and direct voter contacts."
Brown was a bit wordier in response to ArkansasNewsroom.com’s questions. His responses, lightly edited and formatted for publication are below.
How do you plan to approach campaigning on the short schedule that is a runoff?
My campaign for the runoff election will continue as it has since the beginning. This is by relying on my family, friends, neighbors, and mentors to work hard and focus on getting my message out to the voters in Ward 1. We will continue to meet with as many voters as possible in the time we have. This means attending community events, knocking on doors, and having meaningful conversations with residents to ensure they are confident about my performing the job of Maumelle City Council member. We will also leverage digital platforms and social media to continue to share my vision for Maumelle and connect with voters who may not be able to meet in person. Most importantly, I'll continue emphasizing the core values of my campaign: safety first, thoughtful development, and fiscal responsibility-always.
Are there any areas, in terms of campaign issues, that you plan to focus on?
Yes, my focus remains on the key issues that matter most to Maumelle residents: Safety First, Thoughtful Development, and Fiscal Responsibility-Always. Safety is always a priority, ensuring our police and fire departments are well-supported and prepared for the city's needs. Thoughtful development means advocating for balanced growth that aligns with our community's character and opposing overreliance on high-density housing. Fiscal responsibility involves making smart financial decisions to keep Maumelle thriving without over-burdening taxpayers. These issues are the foundation of my campaign and will continue to be my focus throughout the runoff election.
Winning a runoff is all about turnout. How do you plan to get your voters out either early, or on the runoff Election Day?
Getting voters to the polls is critical, and we plan to focus on grassroots efforts to make it happen. We will personally reach out to as many supporters as possible, reminding them of the importance of their vote in this runoff election. My team will also use phone calls, emails, and social media to keep voters informed about early voting and Election Day details. This runoff is about showing up, and we’ll do everything we can to motivate and mobilize our supporters to make their voices heard.
Anything else you'd like to add?
The decision to vote is left to my fellow residents of Ward 1. Remember…...Your Vote, Your Voice, Your Maumelle. Vote Barry Brown.
Early voting information
Early voting will be Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, with Monday, Dec. 2 to follow. Early voting will be held at the Jess Odom Community Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. those three days. The Election Commission said that no voting will be held Thursday and Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Early voting can also be done at the Election Commission building in downtown Little Rock, if that’s more convenient for voters.
Election Day voting information
Election Day for the Maumelle Ward 1, Pos. 1 race will be Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Polling location are:
5 - Hampton Inn of Maumelle, 11920 Maumelle Boulevard, Maumelle
6- Jess Odom Community Center, 1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle