Jefferson County, Ark. – The Jefferson County Board of Election Commissioners has approved a recount of the sheriff’s race after incumbent Lafayette Woods Jr. filed a petition following his narrow defeat. Independent candidate Chris Lowery was declared the winner by a margin of just 229 votes.
Recount timeline and legal basis
Arkansas law allows any candidate to request a recount within two days of the board’s certification of preliminary results. The board certified the preliminary results at 9:06 p.m. on November 3, and Woods submitted his petition at 4:46 p.m. on November 6 – more than the 48‑hour window permitted. Lowery argues the petition is therefore untimely, but the board has nonetheless ordered a recount to begin Wednesday at 10 a.m., with an expectation to finish the same day.
Lowery’s response
“It’s just a shame that an elected official has to win a race twice to make sure you’re the winner,” Lowery told KATV. He added that he is not concerned about the outcome, stating, “I believe the numbers are going to come out the exact same, I believe I am going to win by 229 votes again.”
Key issues for the sheriff‑elect
Lowery highlighted public safety at the county’s W.C. “Dub” Brassel Detention Center as a top priority. He referenced several inmate deaths over the past year and said he plans to take office on January 1, pledging to evaluate the facility’s operations immediately.
Other county races
In related county elections, attorney Efrem Neely Sr. defeated Republican nominee Nathaniel Todd by more than 2,000 votes to become the new county judge. Neely said he will assess the road department’s equipment, training, and staffing, and pursue available grant funding. He also emphasized restoring trust within the quorum court and the broader community, noting that “we came from a regime where it appeared that the law was just not being followed.”
Next steps
The recount will be conducted on Wednesday, and the board expects to release the final certified results later that day. KATV has reached out to Sheriff‑elect Woods for comment on the recount request but has not yet received a response.
Residents of Jefferson County can expect the final outcome to be confirmed shortly, ensuring the county’s law‑enforcement leadership is settled before the new year.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
