Election Recommendations on Ballot Issues this election

Not from Omni Center, but from Leslie Oelsner, an honest, progressive friend, who researches the topics relentlessly before she shares them.

Hello friends,

Here’s my voting recommendations for our upcoming November 3rd

CRUCIAL election, and sources of information about voting. Let’s help make an astounding blue wave in Arkansas!!

(*As always, let me know if you want to get off my list.*)

Remember to make a plan to vote, and to have the ID you need.

From the website of the Arkansas Secretary of State:

The election official will ask the voter for a current, valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. If the voter fails to provide ID, the election official will note it on the precinct voter list.

Here’s a link to that website if you need additional info on voting rules. https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/voter-registration-information/voting-in-arkansas#:~:text=The election official will ask,on the precinct voter list.

Here’s the Washington County website for voting information, and it shows links

to additional kinds of voting information on the left side. Early voting starts on 10/19!! VOTE EARLY IF YOU CAN! (If you need to vote absentee, remember that you can download your ballot, and you can hand in your ballot in person, and thus avoid the mail, up until the close of business on the Friday before the election. Other instructions about voting absentee are on this website below).

https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/county-clerk/voting

VOTING RECOMMENDATIONS:

For most of the people on the ballot, it’s a simple case of voting Democratic.

(There are no incidents of preferring a Republican this time!) Make sure you vote

for every Democratic candidate, no matter how ‘small and local’ the office.

Here’s the NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES AND ISSUES:

Circuit Judge — Kristin Pawlik (Apparently her opponent is ok too, judging by the campaign signs around town that are grouped together, so you might disagree, that’s fine. I’m trusting the advice I received, but I admit that I have not thoroughly investigated.)

City Attorney: DJ Deutch

He’s the more progressive candidate, with excellent and relevant experiences under his belt. He opposes the Swarm deal and NDAs (unlike his opponent). Check out his website: https://deutchforfay.com

City Council:

Ward 1 — there’s no opponent

Ward 2 — Sarah Moore (I have noticed signs for her opponent in yards with Democratic candidate signs, so do your research if you have questions.)

Ward 3 — Haley Hall

Ward 4 — Teresa Turk

https://fayettevilleflyer.com/2026/08/12/here-are-all-of-fayettevilles-municipal-candidate-filings

The Ballot Measures: VOTE NO on 1,2, and 3. Numbers 1 and 2 are obviously awful, and number 3 is awful once one knows the full effects and who would actually benefit.

However — #4 is dealing with an important issue, for which solutions do need to be

found. I think I’m voting NO, but it’s a harder one to decide. The League of Women Voters has an information page about the ballot issues,

which I recommend reading, and you’ll see that they recommend a no vote on 1,2, and 3, and are “neutral” about # 4. They explain why, and I know that some people who usually vote like I do, are voting YES on #4. Here’s what the LWV says about it on the site: Many of the programs Issue 4 would fund are consistent with longstanding League positions, including water resource programs and policies that reflect the interrelationships of water quality, water quantity, groundwater, and surface water; measures to reduce water pollution; and protections for drinking water supplies. The League also supports policies that accelerate pollution control, including public financial assistance for state and local programs.

However, League positions state that the public has a right to participate in decision-making at each phase in the process and at each level of government involvement and should have adequate information about resource-management policies and options. Issue 4 establishes executive and legislative review but does not itself establish a specific public-participation process for bond planning. For that reason, LWVAR takes no position on Issue 4 while recognizing that many of the water, wastewater, and pollution-control purposes it would fund are consistent with League policy.

Unfortunately the Republican legislators and corporations who WOULD have the decision making powers from Ballot Measure #4 are not trustworthy to make these decisions for the best interest of all Arkansans.

AND — here’s another very helpful take on the ballot measures that I recommend reading, from the group For AR People: