Byrd and Elliott win primaries

Democratic Primary

Karl Byrd 3925 (67%)
Jack Pike 1901 (33%)

Republican Primary

Jim Elliott 1294 (78%)
Ronnie Buckner 365 (22%)


Candidate Karl Byrd has defeated his opponent, Lt. Jack Pike, in the Democratic primary election on Tuesday. Byrd will now face Jim Elliott who defeated career candidate Ronnie Buckner in the Republican primary election.

Both candidates stress the need for change within the department to combat both the bad image the department has been given by recent events and the threat of rising crime rates that can come with the population increase the this county has seen and will continue to see.

In today’s Log Cabin Stefanie Sampson writes,

"The voters in Faulkner County have shown they want good, progressive law enforcement, and they know I have good intentions to take them there," Byrd said.

Byrd said he is still focused on opening the line of communications between the sheriff's office and both the citizens of Faulkner County and the Quorum Court. In addition, Byrd would like to turn the office into a proactive department.

Both of Tuesday's winners feel narcotics enforcement are an important issue in Faulkner County.

Elliott said he envisions greater manpower on the secondary roads in Faulkner County to prevent thefts and rolling methamphetamine labs.

He said, so far, the race has been run on credentials, but the rest of the race must be run on how the candidates see themselves in the office.

"I strongly feel we need a checks and balances system for expenditures, so I am able to spot review all financial expenditures. There will also be someone who would check all the expenditures," Elliott said.

He said serving back-warrants and getting criminals off the streets and in the new jail are very important. He wants to explore the feasibility and practicality of expanding the jail work crew to keep Faulkner County clean.

These are all very good points and both these candidates would make a good sheriff; this will be a close race. We have reset our poll so you can once again vote for who you think will win.