Thank You!

Complete but unofficial results in my bid for the state senate have me with 54% of the vote. It was a long, hard campaign, and I look forward to serving in the state senate. Thanks to each of you who helped make this happen. Scroll down for election results.



Election results:

Miller County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Bradfield	52 (74%)	19 (26%)
College Hill Middle School	148 (74%)	53 (26%)
Washington	127 (88%)	18 (12%)
Ozan Inghram	96 (77%)	28 (23%)
Sandflat	60 (76%)	19 (24%)
Hickory Street	85 (75%)	28 (25%)
Grand	144 (71%)	58 (29%)
Arkansas Blvd.	101 (76%)	32 (24%)
North Heights	316 (77%)	93 (23%)
Trice	158 (75%)	55 (25%)
Fouke	137 (43%)	185 (57%)
Ft. Lynn	25 (52%)	23 (48%)
Boyd	21 (46%)	25 (54%)
Central	73 (46%)	85 (54%)
Genoa	66 (64%)	38 (36%)
Pleasant Hill	32 (47%)	36 (53%)
Greenwich Village	82 (59%)	58 (41%)
Mandeville	102 (69%)	45 (31%)
Rondo	139 (64%)	78 (36%)
Shiloh	63 (58%)	45 (42%)
Union	161 (64%)	93 (36%)
Garland	37 (52%)	34 (48%)
Bright Star	27 (43%)	38 (57%)
Doddridge	52 (49.5%)	53 (50.5%)
Sugar Hill	279 (64%)	159 (36%)
Early	773 (70%)	347 (30%)
Absentee	41 (67%)	20 (33%)
Total	3,398 (66%)	1,764 (34%)

Little River County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Arden Township	52 (53%)	47 (47%)
Arkinda (NW of Foreman)	11 (42%)	15 (58%)
Ashdown Ward 1	225 (52%)	208 (48%)
Ashdown Ward 2	125 (49%)	130 (51%)
Ashdown Ward 3	104 (50.2%)	103 (49.8%)
Burke Township (Alleene)	22 (39%)	34 (61%)
Caney Township (Cerrogordo)	23 (36%)	41 (64%)
Cleveland Township (Wilton)	107 (52%)	97 (48%)
Foreman Ward 1	8 (27%)	22 (73%)
Foreman Ward 2	24 (22%)	83 (78%)
Foreman Ward 3	26 (21%)	96 (79%)
Franklin Township (Millwood)	121 (58%)	89 (42%)
Jackson Township (Ash Grove)	36 (27%)	97 (73%)
Jefferson Twnshp (W of 71 btwn Ashdn/Ogdn)	56 (43%)	73 (57%)
Jewell Township (Winthrop)	21 (40%)	32 (60%)
Johnson Township (Ogden)	49 (39%)	76 (61%)
Lick Creek (Btwn Wilton/Alleene)	57 (49%)	60 (51%)
Little River Township (NE of Winthrop)	46 (37%)	77 (63%)
Red River Township (Richmond)	63 (41%)	92 (59%)
Wallace/Richland Townships	31 (23%)	104 (77%)
Early	251 (46%)	299 (54%)
Absentee	47 (51%)	45 (49%)
Total	1,505 (44%)	1,920 (56%)

Lafayette County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Lewisville Library	40 (74%)	14 (26%)
Lewisville Annex	72 (70%)	31 (30%)
Midway/Boyd Hill	23 (47%)	26 (53%)
Walker Creek	33 (51%)	32 (49%)
Bradley	74 (41%)	108 (59%)
Lake Erling	14 (28%)	36 (72%)
Buckner	73 (42%)	100 (58%)
Stamps Complex	69 (42%)	94 (58%)
Stamps City Hall	72 (41%)	103 (59%)
Early	131 (54%)	110 (46%)
Absentee	65 (61%)	41 (39%)
Total	581 (49%)	612 (51%)

Hempstead County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Spring Hill	171 (52%)	161 (48%)
Fulton	41 (47%)	46 (53%)
McNab	12 (44%)	15 (56%)
Patmos	37 (44%)	48 (56%)
Guernsey	39 (53%)	34 (47%)
Early	39 (45%)	48 (55%)
Absentee	22 (55%)	18 (45%)
Total	361 (49%)	370 (51%)

Sevier County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Ben Lomond	26 (53%)	23 (47%)
Brownstown	39 (45%)	47 (55%)
Central Fire Station	53 (46%)	62 (54%)
Chapel Hill	58 (30%)	137 (70%)
Cossatot Fire Dept.	5 (16%)	26 (84%)
Falls Chapel	26 (37%)	44 (63%)
Horatio	99 (30%)	232 (70%)
Lockesburg	4 (67%)	2 (33%)
Early	80 (37%)	134 (67%)
Absentee	13 (62%)	8 (38%)
Total	403 (36%)	715 (64%)

Columbia County

Precinct	Harrelson	Cowling
Taylor City	49 (39%)	77 (61%)
Taylor Township	55 (43%)	74 (57%)
Early	40 (41%)	57 (59%)
Absentee	4 (57%)	3 (43%)
Total	148 (41%)	211 (59%)

Miller County Totals: Harrelson 3,398 (66%) - Cowling 1,764 (34%) (Harrelson +1,634)
Little River County Totals: Harrelson 1,505 (44%) - Cowling 1,920 (56%) (Harrelson -415)
Lafayette County Totals: Harrelson 581 (49%) - Cowling 612 (51%) (Harrelson -31)
Hempstead County Totals: Harrelson 361 (49%) - Cowling 370 (51%) (Harrelson -9)
Sevier County Totals: Harrelson 403 (36%) - Cowling 715 (64%) (Harrelson -312)
Columbia County Totals: Harrelson 148 (41%) - Cowling 211 (59%) (Harrelson -63)

- Texarkana Totals (included in Miller Co. above): Harrelson 1,566 (73.6%) - Cowling 562 (26.4%)
- Ashdown Totals Totals (included in Little River Co. above): Harrelson 454 (50.7%) - Cowling 441 (49.3%)

Grand Totals: Harrelson 6,396 - Cowling 5,592 (Harrelson +804)

Of the 81 precincts, I had the best percentage (88%) in the Washington box in Texarkana. I did the worst at the Cossatot Fire Department in rural Sevier County (16% -- ouch!). We did well in Texarkana and won Ashdown. We got clobbered in only two mid-sized communities: Foreman and Horatio. Overall, I wouldn't change a thing about our effort. We had an excellent organization and executed it well. It's fun recapping the campaign, and after a couple of days of rest, I'm ready to get to work. But first, these signs aren't going to take themselves down.

Election Eve

Don't forget to vote in tomorrow's preferential primary elections here in Arkansas. Here are details on the election:

Early Voting: You can still early vote today at your county courthouse from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Voting at the polls tomorrow: The polls will be open from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm tomorrow. Not sure where to vote or want to confirm your polling place? It's easy -- just go to www.voterview.org, and type in your name and date of birth, and it'll tell you everything you need to know.

Good luck to all candidates.

Last minute photos

Here are a few pictures from the last weekend on the campaign trail:

Stamps fishing tournament


Finally got bit by a dog out going door to door down near Mars Hill. Don't let this little sucker fool ya...he can bring it

Hamburger supper in Spring Hill (Hempstead Co.)

Rocky Mound Cemetery Pie Auction east of Fouke


Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk -- Team Joshua

Weekend before the election with Razorback running back Dennis Johnson

Pie Auction at the Miller Community Center in western Little River County (between Cross Roads and Foreman)

KSLA Interview

Our Senate race will be profiled on KSLA-12 (CBS-Shreveport) soon. Here are a couple of pictures from the interview:

Turk Plant Permit Denied by SC

The Arkansas Supreme Court just reversed the Arkansas Public Service Commission's approval of the Turk power plant in southwest Arkansas. In a ruling released this morning, the court reversed a decision by the to grant a permit for the Southwest Electric Power Co.'s $1.6 billion plant near Fulton in Hempstead County. The ruling sends the case back to the PSC.

The justices said the PSC should not have opened a docket on the need for power, separate from the docket on the request for the plant permit. Chief Justice Hannah wrote that determining the need for additional power is integral to determining the basis for the need for the proposed facility. Here's more from Arkansas Business.

State oriented blogs

Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of issue-oriented and political blogs from each of the states. Click the link for the list.

Letter to the Editor

Here's a link to a letter to the editor appearing in today's Texarkana Gazette.

New radio ad

Click the console below to hear our new radio ad (or or click this link):

Five days out...Former Bronco and all-pro Rod Smith

Thanks to former Arkansas High QB and Bronco Wide Receiver Rod Smith for helping out on the campaign yesterday.

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System update

ATRS Executive Director George Hopkins provides this update on the retirement system.

Jack Hardy Award

Each year, the Texarkana Arkansas School District gives out an award for volunteer work within the school district. My mom won this award in 1993. This year, it went to Sandy Varner -- well deserved.

Patmos City Council meeting

I ran down to Patmos with Rep. Bubba Powers last night to speak to their city council meeting:

Beebe requests federal disaster declaration for nine counties

Governor Beebe has requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government for nine Arkansas counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding beginning April 30. The letter includes requests for Conway, Crittenden, Jackson, Lonoke, Mississippi, Poinsett, Pulaski, Saline, and Van Buren Counties.

In addition, Beebe has also sent a request to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Faulkner County. Fruit crops in Faulkner County suffered significant damage from hailstorms on April 23 and 24.

Whistlestop Festival in Ashdown

We had a good turnout for the Whistlestop Festival in Ashdown over the weekend. We set up shop right outside Harrelson Headquarters in Ashdown with a cotton candy machine and popcorn machine. Here are a few pictures:

On the campaign trail...8 days out

Here's what came on the radio in the Chevy this morning out on the trail.



A few pictures from the weekend:

Nicholas Wells shows his support for Steve Harrelson at the Big Bass Classic weigh-in. His dad Troy Wells picks up his check for 5th place overall and for the fish closest to 6 lbs.


Photo of the day comes in from this house in Rondo with seven Steve Harrelson signs in the yard:



On the airwaves with voters from Hempstead County:

On the "Talk of South Arkansas" this morning

I'll be on the "Talk of South Arkansas" this morning (KXAR 1490 AM) in Hope with Rep. Bubba Powers, who is campaigning with me on the trail some today. Tune in at 8:15 a.m. if you're in the area.

Sevier County Farm Bureau Candidates Forum

All legislative and county candidates in Sevier County met yesterday to speak and answer questions in DeQueen. The forum also aired on KDQN 92.1 FM and KMTB 99.5 out of Nashville.

12 Days out...Ash Grove Cement in Foreman

I took a little time yesterday to tour the new $350 million expansion of Ash Grove Cement in Foreman. Here are a couple of pictures:

April revenue shortfall

As you've read by now, Governor Beebe has authorized the release of rainy-day funds and other fund transfers to protect state services after an unanticipated shortfall in April revenue. The anomaly in non-wage revenues, also appearing in other states around the country, has led the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to recommend a reduction in the FY2010 budget forecast of $41 million. Click here for a copy of the full report.

14 days out...working the plant gate

Here I am visiting with workers from Cooper Tire in Texarkana at daybreak this morning. Workers from this plant have endorsed my candidacy, as have workers from Domtar in Ashdown and the Boilermakers at Ash Grove Cement in Foreman.

NRA takes a pass

The NRA only took a position in three Arkansas state senate races, but not mine. They endorsed Rep. Gene Shelby, Rep. Dawn Creekmore, and Jack McCoy in their respective races for the senate. Here's more.

Beebe declares ten counties disaster areas

Governor Beebe today declared Conway, Crittenden, Jackson, Lonoke, Mississippi, Poinsett, Pulaski, Saline, Stone and Van Buren Counties state disaster areas due to damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding over the weekend.

FEMA crews are en route to Arkansas and will tour impacted counties on Tuesday. They will work with assessments teams from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management to collect information and estimate damage totals. That information will be used to determine the aid that may be available to local governments and individual storm victims. Governor Beebe declared a general State of Emergency on Saturday to assist in the initial response to Friday night's storms.

Local budget pressures

Here's a link to an article on the budget squeeze at it pertains to local governments, with a quote from me.

Two new endorsements this morning

The Arkansas Education Association and the Arkansas Chapter of the Sierra Club both endorsed my candidacy for the Arkansas Senate today. Thank you for your support!

Early voting begins today

I just cast the first vote in Miller County.

Doddridge Spring Bank Ferry Festival

Won my age division in the 5K

Lafayette County Farm Bureau Meet the Candidates event

Neighborhood reunion

We had a neighborhood reunion for the campaign at my childhood home in the North Heights area of Texarkana on Sunday:

Meet the candidates in Fouke

This cake went for $1,200 -- highest auction I've seen on the campaign trail