The Democrat running for Lonoke County sheriff dropped out of the race, county election officials said, narrowing the race to Republican Aaron Spencer and a former police officer running as an independent.
Brian Mitchell Sr. notified the Lonoke County clerk’s office July 16 that he would no longer seek the office, a county employee said Friday.
Attempts to contact Mitchell by phone Thursday and Friday were not successful.
Because Mitchell dropped out before the candidates have been certified, his name will not appear on the ballot this fall, the employee said. That leaves Spencer and independent Larry Behnke in the race for sheriff.
Spencer was on trial for second-degree murder until a judge dismissed the case against him in June. Behnke, a retired North Little Rock police officer, has touted himself as the only candidate in the race with law enforcement experience. All three men served in the U.S. Army.
Grant Lancaster
Grant Lancaster covers crime, policing and breaking news for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A Little Rock native, his articles focus primarily on crime and law enforcement efforts in Pulaski County, although he reports on other parts of the state as well.
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