POPE CO. – There isn’t a lot to say about the election in Pope County except that they’re having one.
Apparently, though, folks in Pope seem to be okay with their elected officials, who are doing as good a job as any, up for retention or booting in this election season.
The single contested office coming up on the ballot is that of county commissioner.
Pope has three county commissioners, all of them “at-large” positions, meaning everyone in the county can vote on them; there are no districts for each commissioner to represent.
This election season, a challenger is on the ballot for the seat open – Neil Wagner, a Democrat, is facing the incumbent, Republican Tim Wallace.
Being retained for their positions as circuit clerk, state’s attorney and coroner are the three incumbents, all of them Democrats: Sean Goins, Melissa Presser and Mark Aly, respectively.
Pope is in the First Judicial Circuit, and so will be voting to retain or not retain two judges there: William G. Schwartz and W. Charles Grace.
They are in the Fifth Appellate Court District, and will be selecting a replacement for retiring judge James Wexstten from between Jo Beth Weber of Jefferson County, or Randy Moore of Williamson; and for retiring judge Bruce Stewart, from between John Barberis Jr. and Brad Bleyer.
Pope sits in the 15th Congressional District, so they have no choice there but John Shimkus; they’re in the 59th Legislative District, so they’ll get to choose between Dem incumbent Gary Forby and Republican challenger Dale Fowler; and they’re in the 118th Representative District so they’ll get to choose between incumbent Democrat Brandon Phelps and challenger, Republican Jason Kasiar.
Be sure to check the front page article for the info on all of THAT.