Empty election commissioner position filled

The Faulkner County Democratic Party has selected Frankie Sears of Mayflower fill a vacant seat on the be Faulkner County Election Commission.

Of the three election commission members, one is either the chairman of the county political party that holds a statewide majority (Democrats, in this case) or his or her appointee, the second is the chairman of the county party holding statewide minority (in this case, Republicans) or his or her appointee and the third is appointed by the county party holding statewide majority.

Sears will be filling the first of these three positions, a position left vacant since the resignation of commission chairman Bruce Haggard in June.

But filling the position left vacant by Haggard does not automatically position Sears as the chairman. As per state code, the three commissioners will chose a chairman from among themselves, possibly during a meeting between the commissioners Thursday.

Haggard left after a botched vote count reversed the outcome of the Arkansas House of Representatives District 45 Democratic Primary election. This mistake has been traced back to an error message that was not heeded by commissioners and county clerk Melinda Reynolds on election night, according to a summary of the election night foul-up signed by deputy secretary of state Janet Harris.

Sam Higdon, chairman of the Faulkner County Democratic Party, said Sears was picked largely because, as a retiree, she has the time to dedicate to the position.

"We have had discussions with several people but time restrictions or other things were always getting in the way. She has the time and she said she was wanting to get involved and so we're giving her that opportunity."

Sears said she has "always been sort of interested in politics" and said she doesn't have any reservations about learning to use the electronic voting machines and software.

"I find them rather simple myself," she said. "I've had no problem voting on them."

(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)