Wendell Griffen held a substantial lead over Michael Rushin in the race for Pulaski County judge after all precincts reported early, unofficial results from the Arkansas secretary of state’s office.
The results listed Griffen with 84,418 votes and Rushin with 44,414 as of 12:57 a.m. Wednesday. The returns remain unofficial until election officials complete the certification process.
A change in county leadership
Griffen’s lead followed a campaign focused in part on the responsibilities of county government. If the result is certified, Griffen would become the first Black chief executive in Pulaski County history. He would succeed County Judge Barry Hyde, a Democrat who has held the position since 2015.
Hyde sought a fourth term but lost to Griffen in the Democratic primary in March. The county judge serves as Pulaski County’s chief executive and earns approximately $159,200 a year. Pulaski County is the most populous county in Arkansas and includes Little Rock, North Little Rock and several other Central Arkansas communities.
Griffen, 74, is an attorney and pastor who lives in Little Rock. He served on the Arkansas Court of Appeals from 1996 to 2008 and later became a circuit court judge in a district based in Little Rock. He declined to seek another circuit judge term in 2022.
During the campaign, Griffen said he was motivated to seek the county office after observing what he viewed as shortcomings in county government. He said he wanted to use the county government to pursue progress on health care, education and economic development.
Data center rules were a campaign issue
The proposed development of a large data center near Wrightsville also figured in the contest. Technology company AVAIO Digital Partners is seeking to build a facility estimated at $6 billion in an unincorporated area of Pulaski County.
Griffen said the proposed land use required regulation and helped draft rules for the project. The Pulaski County Quorum Court approved the ordinance in September, but Hyde vetoed it, citing the risk of litigation and potential administrative issues.
Rushin, 54, is the owner of a property-management company and lives in Sherwood. He emphasized his business experience during the campaign and said he would focus on stability in county government and fair treatment of employees.
- Griffen led with 84,418 votes in the unofficial count.
- Rushin received 44,414 votes.
- The Pulaski County judge is the county’s chief executive and is paid approximately $159,200 annually.
