Big Wins in Miller County, Arkansas 2022

The 2022 election cycle is winding down to an end in Arkansas and specifically in Miller County. The county is seeing some of the largest Republican wins since Reconstruction. As of this writing, the county has a confirmed 32 Republicans going into office on a county and state level representing Miller County. There is one race, JP 7 which will have to be declared vacant and appointed. One Democrat, JP 3, was a elected.

With 32 Republicans and 1 Democrat representing the county, it is clearly a red day for Miller County. For state representation, Senator Jimmy Hickey remained in his seat against an independent challenger. Representatives Lane Jean and Carol Dalby both easily held off Libertarian candidates and remained in their respective seats. Representative Danny Watson did not have an opponent in the general election.

Justice of the Peace 1 had the widow of the former candidate John Wilson, continuing his run. Judy Wilson was able to secure the position and take the seat from independent Eric Darden. Unfortunately, Ethan Eppinette was unable to win against Rick Hall. Hall won the seat and will be the only Democrat on the court.

With one loss on the board, the Republican Committee of Miller County has made a significant and important impact on county politics.

Secretary of State Thurston Shines at Lincoln Day Dinner

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston was the keynote speaker of the Miller County Republican Committee's 2022 Lincoln Day Dinner. In the process of providing the keynote, Thurston reminded the committee of the core of the Republican Party, but more than that, he reminded them of the core of the nation. Reaching, in excellent fashion, beyond the bounds of party politics, Thurston stressed the nation's need to return our focus to God.

Thurston told the committee that America being great is not simply about laws, rules, politicians, or even one party. In a resounding reminder, Thurston stressed how no one politician makes policy or law. According to Thurston, no one politician, regardless of party, can make the changes needed to keep America on a positive path. It requires many, as designed by the founding fathers, to point the nation onto the path of righteousness.

Throughout the speech, Thurston came back time-and-time again to one key point. He stressed that without putting God and prayer for intervention and guidance, no nation can continue to be great. In his closing remarks, Thurston not only stressed the need for prayer, but he provided a closing prayer for the committee, state, and nation.

Republicans are used to speeches promoting party policies, pointing out the errors of our opponents, or even pushing for valid and fair elections. Republicans do not need a reminder about the platform or the politics of daily life. Republicans need the reminder that Thurston hammered home with the guidance of a man speaking openly to people, not just Republican people, but all people, that God must be the guiding center for our nation. By rising above, Thurston not only shined as the keynote speaker, but he mapped out a path to continue the greatness that has made America a cornerstone and the object of envy to the rest of the world.


(Picture from https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/about-the-office/johns-biography/

Miller County Republicans Announce Lincoln Day Dinner

Texarkana, AR : The Miller County Republican Committee will host a Lincoln Day Dinner at the Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center on October 11. The theme for this year’s dinner is "Red, White, and Blue Jeans," and the keynote speaker will be Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston.

The event will start at 6 p.m. and tickets may be purchased online for $60 each. A reception will be held with photo opportunities and interactions for an additional $40 per person at 5 p.m. Sponsorships are still available for area businesses, groups or individuals. Email mcrcofarkansas@gmail.com for further details.

Tickets for the event may be purchased online through the committee website at Texarkana-millercountygop.com or through the Facebook page at facebook.com/millercountyrepublican The event is open to the public and features a casual dress of blue jeans. All tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. You may also call 832-652-8012 for additional information.

Passing of John Wilson Causes Miller County Republican Committee to Reconvene County Convention

With the passing of Republican nominee John Wilson for Justice of the Peace 1, the Miller County Republican Committee was faced with a vacancy for the November primary. His untimely death created a situation rarely dealt with in Miller County; however, there are laws in place for just such an incident.

Below is a brief review of what transpired after Mr. Wilson's death:

1. Diana Lowe,the committee chair, immediately contacted the elections commission, Secretary of State and county. She also contacted the state party and several leaders within the party. She received specific instructions and had to act quickly.

2. There is a ten day period to notify the governor and to obtain permission to fill the vacancy. The letter was sent and permission from the governor to open the convention and fill the vacancy was obtained.

3. There is the requirement that the convention reconvene. The convention will reconvene on July 21.

4. The committee must elect a new candidate for the vacancy.

5. The filing feel ($250) can not be waived for the new candidate - state law.

6. If there is more than one person filing, the committee at convention must vote.

7. If only one person files, the committee votes to certify that person as the Miller County Republican Committee candidate for 2022 JP 1.

Roy Pitt Must Be The Republican Nominee for Justice of the Peace District 7

Key Points:

CLARIFICATION: AFTER THIS ARTICLE WAS PUT OUT, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS INFORMATION IS BEING DISPUTED. I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE WHEN I HAVE ONE.

Jeffery Page – is on the ballot but cannot be elected to the position; if he wins, the position will be vacant.

Roy Pitt – must win the runoff election to ensure that the choice of JP 7 remains with the voters of that district. If he does not win, the Governor of Arkansas must appoint someone.

The runoff for Justice of the Peace District 7 presents a unique and unusual choice for the voters of that district in Miller County. As most people already know, the position had three Republicans file. Jeffery Page, Roy Pitt, and James Syler all presented great choices for the district. But unfortunately, there was no clear winner on election night, and now a runoff is scheduled for Page and Pitt.

The problem for voters in the district is that Page withdrew as a candidate before the election. This left Pitt and Syler, but the ballots had already been printed. Arkansas law required the ballots to go to voters as printed. The result is a runoff between Pitt and Page with a pending result that could remove the right of choice from the people living in district 7.

If the voters in the district vote for Page and he wins the nomination, then the position is declared vacant. This means there is no Democrat candidate on the ballot, and there will be no Republican on the ballot. If the position is declared vacant, the choice of a Justice of the Peace for District 7 falls to the Governor of Arkansas. This would mean that voters would not select their representative, but instead, the Governor would choose one living in the district.

For the voters to have their own elected Justice of the Peace, Republican voters in the district must get behind and vote for Roy Pitt. It would be beneficial for both Syler and Page to endorse Pitt and support his campaign. The county committee and the people of District 7 should get behind Pitt and ensure he wins the runoff election.

Miller County Prepares for Runoff for Sheriff and JP 7

As election night came to a close on May 24, it was quickly apparent that two county offices would head into a runoff. The office of Sheriff will see Stephen Ward and Wayne Easley as candidates for the runoff, while JP 7 will see Roy Pitt and Jeffery Page in a runoff.

Ward and Easley have both maintained positive and friendly campaigns, and that attitude seems to have appealed to many voters. There have been several comments on social media along the lines of "We have two good men running, and it's hard to decide," and "Both these guys are great...I just don't know who I should vote for now." Comments, and support, have been relatively positive for both, and it has not hurt either campaign for the two candidates to appear in pictures and publications together. The only thing certain is that on June 21, one of these two great candidates will be elected as the Republican nominee for Sheriff. Having no Democrat opponent, the winner in June will win in November and be sworn in as Miller County Sheriff on January 1, 2023.

The race for Justice of the Peace 7 presents a unique set of problems for the candidates, the elections commission, and the state. Early in the race, candidate Jeffery Page withdrew from the race for JP 7. Unfortunately, he withdrew after the ballots had already been printed. According to state law, Page's name would remain on the ballot. The three-way race for JP 7 resulted in the planned runoff between Page and Pitt. The state and the elections commission are reviewing Arkansas law to determine how to handle a Page win on election day. The only thing clear is that Page can not be elected to the position. Should he win the Republican nomination, keeping in mind there is no Democrat opponent, a vacancy would be declared. Some laws seem to indicate that the Governor could appoint a JP; however, other laws suggest that the Miller County Republican Committee would elect the position. It's important to stress that the state and the elections commission, along with attorneys working with both, are still trying to determine precisely what avenue must be followed according to law. Currently, the idea the Governor would appoint or the committee would appoint is still subject to a final ruling by the state. In a best-case scenario for the county, Pitt would win. Even if he wins, Page can not assume the nomination because he has officially withdrawn.

Lightfoot's Lalaland

Lori Lightfoot, the mayor of Chicago, tweeted out a "call to arms" on her confirmed Twitter account regarding the Supreme Court. Specifically, Lightfoot tweeted:

"To my friends in the LGBTQ+ community-the Supreme Court is coming for us next. This moment has to be a call to arms." She added a follow-up tweet "We will not surrender our rights without a fight-a-fight to victory!"

Lightfoot, who historically seems to be in LaLaLand*, has once again landed herself in there with a tweet that makes no sense whatsoever, calls for armed insurrection against the United States, and ultimately begs the question, "Exactly what are you going to fight with? You're anti-gun, right?" Let's not even mention that if a Republican made the same statement, it would be plastered all over the news, an investigation would be initiated, and in some cases, the Twitter account would be suspended or even banned. Still, I'm sure that would never happen to a Republican, right?

If we take Lightfoot seriously, which I must admit is a stretch for most people, then we can break down precisely what is meant by her statement:

1. She has no idea what the Supreme Court is doing. Over the last several years, the court has upheld gay marriage, LGBTQ+ rights in the workforce and community, and always ruled in favor of the rights of the LGBTQ+ person. So why does she think they are suddenly coming after the LGBTQ+ community? Is she saying this because of abortion, and if so, is abortion rights a major focus or issue in the LGBTQ+ community? Overnight, the Supreme Court will backtrack on the last ten years' worth of ruling and come after the LGBTQ+ community...not likely. This is simply a mayor seeking attention for her tweets and reaching into her community to stir something up where nothing is present to be stirred.

2. Next, Lightfoot wants a call to arms. Again, she wants this call to arms because of what the Supreme Court is apparently about to do. Lightfoot, with her inside view into the legal workings of the court, has decided they are going to do something. Again, here they are going to come after the LGBTQ+ community in some mysterious way. Lightfoot wants a call to arms, or another term that will be familiar to everyone is an "insurrection" because, after all, a call to arms against the Supreme Court is a call to arms against the United States. Yeah, and just as a side-note here...a call to arms against the United States is illegal and punishable under the law.

3. Finally, along with the call to arms, Lightfoot promises the LGBTQ+ community will not allow this...whatever this is...to happen without a fight. We clearly see she wants the community armed - yeah, that goes along with her anti-gun views - and she wants to fight. Based on her statements, we can conclude that the mayor of Chicago is preparing to attack the Supreme Court of the United States of America. That's what she said in her tweet, and based on a logical breakdown, that is what we must assume she intends to happen.

So, the ultimate question here is, should Lightfoot's threat be taken seriously? She has 150,000+ followers on her Twitter account. She is the mayor of a large city with some of the highest incidents of gun violence despite its strict anti-gun laws, and she has a significant group of followers. Yes, she should be taken seriously. Based on previous actions and investigations into threats against the United States, at the least, there should be an investigation. Will there be an investigation? Ultimately, that's up to the powers that be, but I bet if someone told those powers she is now a Republican, it would be front-page news, she would be banned from Twitter, and the FBI would be knocking on her door...just saying.


* Lalaland is a colloquial term for “being out of touch with reality,” usually due to bliss or ignorance. (from https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/lalaland/)

Miller County Gets Ready for Republican Meet and Greet

Candidates for the county and state will undertake the challenge to meet, greet, win your vote, and provide you with the best chili around tomorrow night.  The Miller County Republican Committee is hosting a "Meet and Greet Chili Cook-Off" Tuesday, April 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Crossties in Texarkana.  Crossties is located at 324 E. Broad Street and offers an open floor venue for public events.  Over 30 candidates will step up to the challenge of providing chili for the community and judges.   In addition, candidates will have speaking times throughout the event. 

Laura Bates, the Miller County Tax Collector and a member of the committee for the meet and greet has provided a video showcasing the setting that can be found at:

Several Miller County Candidates Drop Out of Republican Primary 2022

The primary election cycle is barely starting, and already several candidates have withdrawn from races across Miller County, Arkansas.  Justice of the Peace 3 and 7 have both seen withdrawals.  In addition, Constable 3 had a candidate withdraw early before the ballot draw was completed. 

Justice of the Peace 3 started with a contest between Ethan Eppinette and Danny Jewell.  Before the ballot draw in March, Jewell officially withdrew his name as a candidate.  As a result, he will not appear on the ballot for the primary.  Eppinette has now secured the Republican nomination, but he will face a Democrat opponent in the general election. 

Constable 3 had a primary race between Tom Morrisey and Mark Brown.  Before the ballot draw, Morrisey withdrew as a candidate, leaving Brown as the only Republican on the ballot.  Brown does not face an opponent for the general election, so he has secured the position of Constable 3. 

Justice of the Peace 7 was set for a three-way Republican Primary race.  Jeff Paige, Roy Pitt, and James Syler filed for the position.  Paige officially withdrew on March 31st.  Because the ballots have already been submitted, Paige will appear on ballots for the primary; however, he will not be counted as an official candidate.  The primary will be between Pitt and Syler.  The primary winner faces no challenger in the general election and will therefore secured the position. 

Miller County Secure as Republican for 2022 Elections

For the 2022 election cycle, Miller county, Arkansas, already has a Republican dominance, and the first vote has not even been cast yet.  In 2018, Miller county saw 27 Republicans take office at the end of the election cycle.  In 2020, the number of Republicans in Miller County increased by one for a total of 28 Republicans in office.  Before the election has even started, 21 Republicans are already guaranteed positions this year.  

The county has 34 elected positions, from Constable to State Senator and State Representative.  Currently, 21 Republicans have no opponents.  There are 6 positions with a Republican Primary race.  This means that the 21 Republicans will be joined by six additional people on the primary night.  Therefore, there will be 27 Republicans secure in their positions on the primary night with no opposition.  

Only two Justice of the Peace (JP) Races have challengers to the Republican position.  JP 1 will see Republican John Wilson facing off with an Independent.  JP 4 will see Republican Ethan Eppinette facing a Democrat challenger.  On the county level, there is currently only one Democrat on the ballot, and he is running for JP 4.  

State Representatives Carol Dalby, Danny Watson, and Lane Jean will all be secure in their Republican nominations, but they will face Libertarian opponents in the general election.  In addition, state Senator Jimmy Hickey will face an independent in the general election. 

Based on current projections, only two races present a viable challenge to the Republican Party, JP 1 and JP 4.  If Republicans can secure these two positions, Miller County could see a county with 34 Republicans in office starting on January 1, 2023.  While there are no guarantees in politics, it certainly looks like the county will have a Republican-controlled government into the foreseeable future. 

For more information and candidates, see the Miller County Election Cycle

To learn more about the Miller County Republican Committee, visit the Miller County Republican Committee

Republican Growth Continues in Miller County

The growth and influence of the Miller County Republican Committee has never been more evident than during the filings this year.  There was a time when Republicans were openly encouraged to run as a Democrat in Miller County.  A Republican would go to the courthouse to file for an office, and those helping would immediately say, “Oh, you don’t want to run as a Republican. You won’t get elected.  You need to run as a Democrat.”  Sadly, in some cases, those Republicans decided running as a Democrat was the only way to win; however, other Republicans stood firm.  Those Republicans may have lost the race, but they refused to give up their values.  Today, thanks to the work of a dedicated Republican Committee in Miller County, Republicans no longer need to fear hearing they should run as Democrats.  

Filing ended at noon on March 1, 2022.  At 12:01, the reports showed a clear and continued shift in the county.  It’s a shift that has been slowly growing as Americans wake up to the platform of the Republican Party.  Forty-five Republicans filed for the thirty-four open positions representing the citizens of Miller at a state and county level.  Three Libertarians filed, two independents filed, and only one Democrat filed.  After years of seeing Democrats across the ballots in Miller County, there is now only one left willing to run for office.  County Republicans secured twenty-one uncontested races at the end of the filing.  

The last committee count revealed a total of sixty-four members.  With the filing complete, seventy Republicans will take over the county committee at the County Convention this year.  Candidates and Committee Members will lead the way into the primary and general election of 2022.  The Miller County Republican Committee is a vibrant and overshadowing example of what Republicans can do when the message is clear and shared with citizens. The values are American. The mission is to help keep this great country great.  We work at the county level, but without a county committee, there is no district, no state, and no federal level- so keep working, Republicans, because your growth and influence are alive and well in Miller County, Arkansas.

Biden: Destroying the American Economy in The First Year

On May 19, 2019, Joe Biden spoke in Pennsylvania and said that President Trump “inherited a good economy” from the Obama Administration. So intent was Biden on expressing how Obama handed Trump a great economy,  that Biden stressed that people should pay attention to the “facts” he was presenting.   According to Biden, the economy, so enjoyed by Democrats and Republicans, under President Trump was actually the fruits of the hard work of the Obama Administration. So naturally, Joe failed to point out that this “good economy” he referred to was now three years into the Trump Administration.  

Now, as most Americans look around and wonder what happened to gas prices, food prices, and what the heck is going on with energy prices, Biden again has an answer. On April 28, 2021, four months into Biden’s presidency and as prices skyrocket and America starts into what is now viewed as the worst economy and the highest inflation rate since 1982, Biden has the answer. It’s all Trump’s fault. According to Biden, he “inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.”  Well, perhaps that is a little overdramatic, but if you’re going to lie, why not just lie big? Lying appears to be Biden’s key weapon.   

Notwithstanding all the many promises Biden made and has since ignored, it’s hard to blame Trump for a lousy economy. If you look at the facts - as Biden so expresses -  these negative economic impacts did not happen until Biden took office and started implementing his policies. The Biden policies have stalled shipping of products, raised government minimum wage overnight without the gradual increase usually recommended, and pushed for increases in the minimum wage, which some companies adopted, again, without a monitored and planned rollout. These Economic Ignorant actions have directly harmed the economy.  

Now let’s be fair yes people working jobs deserve better wages, but let’s also understand something about minimum wage. First, the minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage. It was meant for high school kids, college students, and trade students. It was meant to be your first job wage while working toward something more significant and better. The concept is simple, you earn minimum wage until you’re skilled or degreed to a level of doing something else, or you advance in your job through the ranks. Unfortunately, this system is not working, and in many cases, people have chosen to continue to work minimum wage jobs instead of trying to find something better. Fast forward, and suddenly the guy at the coffee shop is making $18 an hour to fix your coffee; the guy flipping hamburgers is making $15 an hour to push a timer and flip a burger. The people stocking the shelves at your craft store make $18.50 an hour. But, as we do this, we have degreed people making $14 an hour, we have skilled medical people making $16 an hour, and those people, after years of hard work and education, have been left behind.  

With the boom in wages comes a boom in cost. This means that corporations have to raise the price of products and services to make money. Once they raise costs, even the people making $18 an hour will find it hard to make ends meet. Let’s not even talk about seniors on fixed incomes that anticipated a slow economic growth and slow wage increases…not an overnight doubling of wages. The answer to who started all this across the country…Joe Biden. 

So, Joe has a good idea - let’s get more money to the working people…let’s raise the minimum wage. That’s fine, but obviously, nobody in the White House understands basic economics…just listen to the press secretary for a minute, and you can figure that out…so if Joe raises wages - especially federal contractors and workers- and others follow the program, then you have an economy that can not help but suffer huge setbacks. The plan should have been set up like Arkansas set theirs up - slow and one step at a time. Arkansas has a plan to raise the minimum wage over several years…not overnight. But Arkansas has a Republican Governor and Republican-controlled legislature, so it’s not likely Joe was going to listen to him. While Republicans in Arkansas implemented a well-thought-out and coordinated plan presented to the people, Biden simply jumped forward without any thought to the consequences of his actions.   

No, Joe, you did not “inherit the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.”  No, Joe, you started the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression by ignoring fundamental economic truths. But, to be fair,  what can we expect from a man confused about whether Trump inherited a great economy or gave Biden a bad one? Biden, you can’t have it both ways.