Woods and Hester Win State Senate Seats
By: Liz Hogan
Updated: May 23, 2012
Two local races for state senate seats end in victories for the candidates with the least amount of political experience.
Representative Jon Woods-(R) walked away with a slim majority of the votes in Tuesday's primary, just 52-percent.
"I think the people wanted to see a change, I think Springdale needs a voice in Little Rock," Woods said. "The American people want people in office and in politics that are innovative and creative and think outside the box."
Woods' victory means incumbent Senator Bill Pritchard-(R) is out.
Because of term limits, this was Pritchard's last chance to run for the District 7 position, and he initially thought he'd be running unopposed.
"The Lord's got something else for me and I'm sure in good time he'll let me know what that is," Pritchard said.
In Benton County, there was another somewhat surprising victory.
Political newcomer Bart Hester-(R), defeated Representative Tim Summers-(R), who is currently serving his second term in the house.
Preliminary numbers show Hester collected 54-percent of the vote.
"We're just going to start really looking into issues that we can make a difference on and legislation that's going to be important in the upcoming session and really start focusing on January when we get sworn in so we can hit the ground running," Hester said.
"I'll just work hard to serve out the rest of this term and try to serve the people of the House District 99 like I have been the last three and a half years," said Summers.
Of the two races, only Woods will go on to face a democratic candidate in November.
Representative Jon Woods-(R) walked away with a slim majority of the votes in Tuesday's primary, just 52-percent.
"I think the people wanted to see a change, I think Springdale needs a voice in Little Rock," Woods said. "The American people want people in office and in politics that are innovative and creative and think outside the box."
Woods' victory means incumbent Senator Bill Pritchard-(R) is out.
Because of term limits, this was Pritchard's last chance to run for the District 7 position, and he initially thought he'd be running unopposed.
"The Lord's got something else for me and I'm sure in good time he'll let me know what that is," Pritchard said.
In Benton County, there was another somewhat surprising victory.
Political newcomer Bart Hester-(R), defeated Representative Tim Summers-(R), who is currently serving his second term in the house.
Preliminary numbers show Hester collected 54-percent of the vote.
"We're just going to start really looking into issues that we can make a difference on and legislation that's going to be important in the upcoming session and really start focusing on January when we get sworn in so we can hit the ground running," Hester said.
"I'll just work hard to serve out the rest of this term and try to serve the people of the House District 99 like I have been the last three and a half years," said Summers.
Of the two races, only Woods will go on to face a democratic candidate in November.
