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Political newcomer Scott Smith won 56 percent of the votes in Tuesday’s primary election, edging out opponent Mike Beckwith by 146 votes, to become the Democrat nominee for the District 29 seat of the Arkansas House of Representatives.  Democrat candidate Scott Smith of Bryant looks at election results online with his two children, Brenna, 3, and Bret, 5, Tuesday night. Smith edged opponent Mike Beckwith of Benton to win the Democratic nomination.
“We are humble and happy that we won,” said Smith, 34, of Bryant. “I want to congratulate Beckwith on running a good, clean campaign and for his professionalism. We are obviously happy with the outcome and want to thank the volunteers, voters and other supporters for their hard work.”
The Democrat primary had a relatively low voter turnout with only a total of 1,160 votes for or against Smith and Beckwith. Of those votes cast, Smith garnered 65,3 or 56.3 percent, and Beckwith had 507 votes, or 43.7 percent.
“I know we had low voter turnout tonight,” Smith said late Tuesday. “I can understand that a little (bit) with so many big races on the Republican side, because of the sheriff’s race and the Saline County judge race, but we are going to make sure we bring the vote count back up for the Democratic Party.”
Beckwith, 47, of Benton also thanked his supporters and Smith for running a clean campaign. He said he is not sure whether he will run for this position or any other position in the future.
“As of right now everything is wide open ... We are going to re-evaluate and go from there,” Beckwith said.
“We’ll look and see what seats are available in the state or county in the future and think about it then. I want to thank the people of Saline County for voting, and Smith ran an excellent campaign. I wish him the best in the fall general election.”
Smith will face Republican nominee Ann Clemmer for the House seat in the the Nov. 4 general election.
“We are going to rest for the next couple of days and then gear up for the general election in the fall,” Smith said. “We’ll get back to work and try to keep the seat with the Democratic Party.”
Smith said that his main goal, if elected, is to help create jobs through new business and industry.
“We have good schools, we have a new county airport and we have the interstate,” Smith said. “I want to be a component of good economic development in central Arkansas.”
Smith is a graduate of Harding University at Searcy, a Sunday School teacher and he has served on the Finance Committee at Indian Springs Baptist Church in Bryant. He is a member of the Bryant Athletic Foundation and has coached the Bryant Boys and Girls Club football, basketball and baseball teams.
He is a senior managing partner of SKB Partners of Bryant, a company he founded eight years ago with one employee in a 500-square-foot office on Reynolds Road. The company now employs eight people and serves small- and medium- sized businesses with business and real estate development consulting, insurance services and leasing.
Smith and his wife, Kim, have two children, Brenna, 3 and Bret, 5, who are enrolled in the Bryant School District.
Beckwith, a native of Hot Springs, graduated from Benton High School in 1978 and owns Arkansas Online Marketing Services from his home in Benton.
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