Ouachita County’s 2026 election filings are now complete, bringing several contested races, an open seat for County Judge, and School Board elections set for March.

County Judge

Judge Robert McAdoo is not seeking reelection in 2026. Four candidates have filed for the position:

• Michael Tyler – Republican
• Justin Freeland – Independent
• Amy Hughes – Republican
• Rayford Wright – Democrat

Because two Republicans filed, Tyler and Hughes will compete in the March Primary. Freeland and Wright advance to the November General Election.

County Assessor

• Tonya McKenzie – Democrat (Incumbent)
• Stephanie Olds – Republican

This race proceeds directly to the General Election.

County Clerk

• Sherri Hunter – Republican (Incumbent)
• Gayla Holeman – Republican

This race will be decided in the March Primary.

Circuit Clerk

Gladys Ferguson Nettles – Democrat
Unopposed

County Coroner

• Todd McAteer – Republican (Incumbent)
• Sylvester Lee Smith Jr. – Independent

County Sheriff

Sheriff David Norwood is not seeking another term, opening the race to three candidates with extensive public-safety backgrounds:

• Chief Deputy Larry McMahen – Republican
  • Chief Deputy at the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office
• Jarrod Purifoy – Republican
  • Deputy at the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office
  • Officer with Chidester Police Department
  • Assistant Fire Chief at the Chidester Fire Department
  • Member of the Camden Fire Department
• Trooper Clayton Richardson – Democrat
  • Trooper with the Arkansas State Police

Because two Republicans filed, McMahen and Purifoy will face each other in the March Primary.
The winner will advance to the General Election to face Richardson.

Tax Collector–Treasurer

• Melinda “Missy” Chambers – Republican

Chambers is Unopposed.

Justice of the Peace

All Justice of the Peace seats are unopposed in 2026. The full list of candidates is:

• District 1: Ware Russell
• District 2: Dale Vaughan
• District 3: David F. Kelley (replacing Michael Tyler)
• District 4: Jonathan Wolfe
• District 5: Shannon Milam
• District 6: Addie Moore-Edwards
• District 7: Wayland Chambers
• District 8: Willie R. Hardy
• District 9: Fred Lilly
• District 10: Helen Aregood
• District 11: Jerry N. West

All candidates filed without opposition and will serve the upcoming term.

 

Constables

All constable positions remain unchanged and unopposed:

• Allen Lee Vaughan - Bradley Township
• Chris Headrick – Bragg Township
• Shawn Pell - Bridge Creek Township
• Dustin Vaughan - Cleveland Township
• Phil Rocconi - Ecore Fabre
• Rodney Sorrells - Freeo Township
• Jeremy Amerson - Marion Township
• Jason Purifoy - Red Hill Township
• Bruce J. Porchia - Smackover Township
• Mitchell Pate - Union Township

School Board Elections – March 2026

School Board elections for Bearden, Camden Fairview, and Harmony Grove will take place in March 2026.

Bearden School District

• Zone 1: Tony Harcrow – Independent
• Zone 4: Doris Parham – Independent

Camden Fairview School District

• Zone 1: William S. McCoy – Independent
• Zone 7: Ben Goss – Independent

Harmony Grove School District

Zone 1

• Michael Thomason – Independent (Incumbent)

Zone 2

• Matthew Ray – Independent (Incumbent)

Zone 3

• Timothy Ray – Independent (Incumbent)

Zone 4

• Hannah Odell – Independent
• Amy Pennington Wright – Independent

Zone 5

• Matthew Nutt – Independent (Incumbent)
• Jennifer Louden – Independent

Zone 6

• Jason W. Thomas – Independent (Incumbent)

Zone 7

• Jeremy Anderson – Independent

Party Totals for 2026 County Filings

Republican – 7 (County Offices)

• Michael Tyler – Judge
• Amy Hughes – Judge
• Stephanie Olds – Assessor
• Sherri Hunter – County Clerk
• Gayla Holeman – County Clerk
• Melinda “Missy” Chambers – Tax Collector–Treasurer
• Todd McAteer - County Coroner

Plus 2 Republicans in the Sheriff’s race:

• Chief Deputy Larry McMahen
• Jarrod Purifoy

(9 total when including law enforcement.)

Democrat – 4

• Rayford Wright – Judge
• Tonya McKenzie – Assessor
• Gladys Ferguson Nettles – Circuit Clerk
• Clayton Richardson – Sheriff

Independent – 2 (County-Level)

• Justin Freeland – Judge
• Sylvester Lee Smith Jr. – Coroner

Independent – All School Board Candidates

Primary vs General Election Summary

March 2026 Primary

• County Judge (Republican)
• County Clerk (Republican)
• County Sheriff (Republican)
• All School Board races

November 2026 General Election

• County Judge: Republican winner vs Independent Freeland and Democrat Wright
• County Assessor
• County Sheriff: Republican winner vs Democrat Richardson
• County Coroner
• All unopposed county officials