Faulkner County Judge Jim Baker, a Democrat, has lost his re-election bid to Republican Allen Dodson.
Unofficial vote totals:
Baker 17,730
Dodson 22,252
Dodson is not new to the county judge’s job, though. He was serving as the county’s attorney when he was appointed in 2013 to succeed Preston Scroggin, who resigned from the county judge’s job to take another position. Dodson did not run for office in the subsequent election, and Baker was elected in 2014.
As county judge, Dodson led the county’s response to two disasters: a major crude oil pipeline rupture in Mayflower and a deadly tornado on April 27, 2014.
Baker is a cattleman who worked 6 1/2 years in the administration of former President Bill Clinton as the first administrator of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Baker managed to hold onto his county seat for years even though he was at odds more than once with the Republican majority on the Quorum Court.
