Baggett claims Ward 3 runoff win
By Jeremy Peppas / Staff Writer / jpeppas@nlrtimes.com
Thursday, December 4, 2008 11:18 AM CST
Sam Baggett was right. And he won.
Last week, Baggett said that he thought more than 800 people would vote in last Tuesday’s runoff election for North Little Rock Ward 3 alderman.
Incumbent Alderman John Parker thought the total votes cast would be under 800.
Instead 838 cast ballots with Baggett easily winning the runoff with 552 votes, Parker pulled down 285 and one ballot was an undervote with neither candidate selected.
In the run-off, 600 people voted last Tuesday, while 238 votes came either early or as absentee.
Baggett won all three categories and also won six of the seven precincts.
“I was surprised,” Baggett said of the result. “I wasn’t really thinking what the margin would be and all I was hoping for was a win.”
About two out of three people voted for Baggett in the race and the only precinct he lost was First Christian Church in Maumelle where Parker won 9 to 6.
This was Baggett’s first foray into elected office. He currently serves on the North Little Rock Planning Commission.
That commission is seeing two of its members head off to be aldermen with Baggett and newly elected Ward 2 alderman Maurice Taylor.
“I guess they will have to come up with two new members,” Baggett said of the commission.
“I really hadn’t thought of that. It was going to come down to the wire and I wasn’t thinking of what would happen next. I was more focused on the race.”
He added that he was humbled and appreciative of the support he had received.
“The other thing is I really appreciate John [Parker],” Baggett said. “He called me and conceded the race at 8 or so and he was a real gentleman about it. I appreciate his attitude.”
Baggett added that his main focus was going to be on public safety issues and, “I’m gonna do what I said I was going to do. I’m going to be a voice for the people of Ward 3.”
