Voters select county commissioners, revenue commissioner

The Franklin County Courthouse saw a large number of visitors as election results poured in and results were announced for Franklin County commissioners and Franklin County revenue commissioner.

A tight race ensued for revenue commissioner, with 23 votes separating the top two candidates. Veronica Copeland Stancil received 44.59 percent of the vote with 2,437, Stratt Byars received 44.17 percent of votes with 2,414, and Charlie Nelson received 614 votes.

There will be a run-off election March 31 between Copeland-Stancil and Byars to determine who will be revenue commissioner.

For Franklin County Commission District 1, incumbent Chris Wallace won with 61.6 percent, 2,997 votes, to Joe Fike’s 1,868 votes.

“This will be my third term, so I just appreciate the voters putting their faith in me enough to elect me for another term,” Wallace said.

In District 2, incumbent Jason Miller had the most votes at each individual polling place in Franklin County and won with 65.8 percent, 3,327 votes, to Terry Prince’s 1,729 votes.

“I am really glad I was able to win each polling place and that I was able to win all five boxes in Russellville,” Miller said. “I’m thankful my hometown folks stuck by me and helped me pull out the big win.”

Joseph Baldwin won District 3 at 67.81 percent with 3,473 votes to incumbent Rayburn Massey’s 1,649.

It was another close race for District 4 as William David (Opie) Hester won with 55.15 percent of votes. Hester received 2,724 votes to Misty Holcombe’s 2,215.

“It was a really close race, which I knew that it would be because (Holcomb) is a great person,” Hester said. “I’m really glad that I won. There were several things we have been able to accomplish in the county and in District 4, and there’s a lot of things I am looking forward to being a part of in our county.”