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Political newcomer Barbara Nix, a longtime Benton educator, unseated a first-term legislator in Tuesday’s preferential primary election in Saline County.  Barbara Nix receives congratulations by telephone from supporter Sam Stueart while surrounded by friends and family at her victory party Tuesday night at Books & Baubles in Downtown Benton. From left are Bud Lidzy, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in House District 29; Carolyn Towell, Nix’s sister; Nix; Sondra Curtis; Jeff Curtis and Kris Curtis, Nix’s daughter. (Courier photo by Lynda Hollenbeck)
Nix, a lifetime Benton resident, defeated Rep. Lamont Cornwell of Benton to win the Democrat nomination. She will face Republican candidate David McCoy in the Nov. 4 general election.
Nix collected 58 percent of the votes against Cornwell, winning 1,520 to 1,119.
She said that before the results were known, she had prepared two lesson plans for her eighth-grade English class on Wednesday.
“One was on how you act if you lose and the other was how you act if you win,” Nix said. “I had a lesson plan ready for either outcome.”
Cornwell, 60, said he congratulated Nix.
“I just called and wished Barbara congratulations,” he said around 10 p.m. Tuesday. “And I wish her the best on the next race [in November]. I wish her only the very best.”
Cornwell acknowledged that he was disappointed to lose his bid for re-election, but said “when you get into the race, you accept the will of the voters, and I accept the will of the people of Benton, Haskell and Traskwood.”
Nix, 58, expressed appreciation to her supporters and commended Cornwell for his service to the people of District 28.
“I appreciate what he’s been able to do for the people in this district and I look forward to working with him this fall,” she said.
“I’ll be grateful for for his advice and hope to gain from his experience in office. I hope he’ll share his knowledge with me and work with me. I do need all of his supporters for the November general election.”
Nix said she wants to emphasize that her victory is “not an ‘I’ effort, but a ‘we’ effort.”
“I don’t take credit for this,” she said. “Everybody involved is responsible, especially the firefighters, police, laborers, teachers and other school employees. We all pulled together.”
Nix received endorsements from Benton Fire Department’s Local 2765, an affiliate of the International Association of Firefighters; Benton Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 63; Arkansas AFLCIO; Benton Education Association; Benton Association of Support Staff; and the Arkansas Education Association.
Nix is president of the BEA and serves on the AEA Board of Directors.
She said support from all of these associations played a role in her win, but she also attributed the victory “to the fact that I’m from Saline County and have made so many contacts through 37 years of teaching here. I know so many people and have good relationships with the people in District 28.”
State Rep. Janet Johnson, D-Bryant, who was at Nix’s victory party, said she is “very proud of Barbara. She ran a very dedicated race, and I’m proud of her for being a working woman who has convinced the people of Benton that she will work for them equally as hard.”
Nix said there’s nothing she would change about her primary campaign, regardless of the outcome. “We ran a positive campaign, and we’re gearing up now for the general election in the fall,” she said.
She added that her campaign was run on “a shoestring budget,” which she believes should serve as an incentive to anyone considering seeking public office.
“It can be done without a lot of money,” Nix said. “That sends a good message.”
McCoy, 43, said today that he is looking forward to the upcoming election. “I congratulate Barbara for her win, and I look forward to a spirited and positive campaign,” he said.
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