BENTONVILLE -- Sheriff Kelley Cradduck will not seek a recount of Tuesday's primary election results. Cradduck's decision means Benton County Sheriff's Office Maj. Shawn Holloway will face Lowell police Lt. Paul Pillaro in a runoff for the Republican nomination for sheriff March 22. The winner will face Glenn Latham, an independent, in November.
Cradduck finished third, but he was only 229 votes behind Pillaro, according to unofficial numbers. Siloam Springs Cpl. Timothy Filbeck was fourth.
"This morning my campaign manager and I spoke about the possibility of challenging the results of the race since there was such a small difference for me to be in a runoff," Cradduck said in statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday. "At first I agreed that we should move forward with the challenge. As I thought and prayed about it, I have decided that the county and my family would be better off if we just let the numbers stand."
Bill Adams, Cradduck's campaign manager, contacted the Election Commission about a possible recount, and he later sent out a tweet the campaign reached out to the commission for a recount. Cradduck later issued a statement denying he requested a recount.
Cradduck was seeking a third term. He sought re-election even after being arrested and charged with tampering with a public record, a Class D felony; and tampering, a Class A misdemeanor. Cradduck has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Cradduck has said he was attempting to help Gabriel Cox, who was homeless at the time, by hiring him to work in the jail. Cox's personnel records listed Cradduck's address as his home when he was hired. The sheriff has said Cox moved into an apartment in Rogers after he received his first paycheck.
The Election Commission accepted and counted 24 absentee ballots Wednesday, but the additional votes left Tuesday's winners unchanged.
Kim Dennison, election coordinator, said absentee ballots counted Wednesday included some from a Siloam Springs nursing home that were improperly delivered. Tena O'Brien, county clerk, said state law requires nursing home administrators to deliver absentee ballots from residents to the county clerk's office. The absentee ballots from the nursing home were taken to a vote center instead.
Russ Anzalone, commission chairman, said Wednesday the residents had done nothing wrong and the commission would count their votes.
The Election Commission will meet Monday to review 26 provisional ballots from the primary election. Those votes will be added to totals if the commission decides to accept the ballots.
Cradduck said he plans to continue his work as sheriff and prepare the office for the sheriff who is elected in November.
"I wish both candidates good luck and would like to thank all those who have and continue to stand with me and my family," Cradduck said in his statement.
Benton County Sheriff Results
Republican Primary
Holloway 19,409 (49 percent)
Pillaro 8,280 (21 percent)
Cradduck 8,051 (21 percent)
Filbeck 3,503 (9 percent)
Source: Benton County Election Commission
General News on 03/11/2016