This is important enough to mention prominently now. Pulaski County has enjoyed generally competent leadership under the administration of Buddy Villines (which isn’t to say I’m enamored of the vise he’s put Little Rock in on the jail.) But love or hate Buddy, he’s retiring. In running the jail and in progressive use of the county’s big road fund (think trails, pedestrian bridges, showcase downtown bridges) and tax power (think Verizon Arena), the county judge can have a big impact. We’d have no Maumelle watershed ordinance at all — love or hate it — without Villines.

It’s not a throwaway election. Find out about the candidates. Attend this session.

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