Gentry's school board candidates face runoff

GENTRY — A runoff election will occur for a Gentry School Board race that ended in a tie during the Sept. 20 election.

Randall Bolinger and Kent Swinney received nine votes each in Zone 4.

Candidates must receive 51 percent or higher to win an election, otherwise a runoff is held. The runoff for the Zone 4 seat will be Oct. 11.

“I guess I just got the luck of the draw,” Swinney said. More publicity about the election may have brought a greater turnout, Swinney said.

“I know there are more people inthis zone than 18 people,” Swinney said.

Bolinger said the tie would have been less likely if more people had voted.

“I am encouraging everyone to go out and vote,” Bolinger said.

Benton County Clerk Tena O’Brien said state law requires the county election commission to draw lots if a runoff also ends in a tie.

The commission must draw lots during a public meeting with both candidates present, O’Brien said.

Alex Reed, spokesman for the Arkansas Secretary of State Office, said the law does not define how the commission should draw lots.

He said that is up to the commission.