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Jefferson County Judge

Over their four-year term, a county judge is responsible for:Maintaining and having custody of county propertyOverseeing public roads and bridges outside city limitsAdministering county ordinances Presiding over the Quorum Court, where the judge has veto power but not a voteAuthorizing county spending or paying of billsAccepting grants from outside entitiesHiring county employees that don't work for another county officialHearing property tax appeals (this is where that judge title comes in)Meeting with local mayors at least once a year for intergovernmental meetingsIn some counties, judges have assisted with burial costs for indigent people or have created community service programs.https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/ced-blog/posts/2022/april/what-is-a-county-judge.aspx

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    Jeff Edwards
    (Dem)

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    Efrem Neely Sr.
    (Dem)

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    Gerald Robinson
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Michael Turley
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Eric Walden Jr.
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

Describe in your own words the duties of the office you seek.

Describe in your own words the experience and skills you have that qualifies you for this position.

Describe the first thing you plan to change/improve when you take office and how you will accomplish that goal.

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Mailing Address PO Box 3117
Pine Bluff, AR 71611
Campaign Phone 8702607597
Website http://turleyin26.org
The county judge is the CEO for the county, working with the quorum court to implement the county budget and guide employed personnel while serving the residents. As CEO, the county judge represents the county in collaboration with potential and existing businesses; local, state, and federal agencies; and grant providers regarding county products and services.
I have participated in 100+ human conflict, natural disaster, and humanitarian missions across 50+ years, as far back as California earthquake response in 1971. I was the first federal officer on the ground in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; I set up the airport for 24-hr medevac. I designed the 2009-10 pandemic medical response and support plan for Montreal, Canada.

I am a retired US Air Force officer, pilot, French interpreter, and liaison specialist regarding international relations. I served as the Arkansas state president for the international Association of Contingency Planners.

I have a PhD in leadership. I taught college-level Emergency Management courses specializing in GIS, which highlights the county's strategic value.
The first thing I will improve is trust by the residents of transparency of governance. I will do this by meeting with all county elected, appointed, and employed personnel and correct the long-overdue budget freeze (since 2024) with a 3-step plan:

1. Align the budget to match other Class 5 counties in the state 2. Provide compensation to all county personnel who have suffered since the budget was frozen and several personnel went unpaid for weeks 3. Establish a mandate for the county salaries to align with federal cost-of-living annual adjustments (currently nonexistent for Arkansas state personnel)

Next I will implement immediate steps to secure jobs for residents while addressing current road safety hazards (paving and painting).
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