Local Offices You Can Run For in Arkansas
Most day-to-day decisions that affect your neighborhood — roads, schools, policing, zoning — happen at the county, city, and school district level. Here are the local offices Arkansans can run for.
County Offices
Office: County Judge
The chief executive of county government. Manages county roads and buildings, signs off on county spending, and presides over the Quorum Court. Not a judicial role despite the name. Two-year term.
Office: Quorum Court Member (Justice of the Peace)
Members of the county legislative body. Each county has 9–15 JPs elected from districts. They pass county ordinances, set the county budget, and levy county taxes. Two-year term.
Office: Sheriff
The county's top law enforcement officer. Runs the county jail, serves court papers, and patrols unincorporated areas. Four-year term.
Office: County Clerk
Keeps county records, issues marriage licenses, maintains voter registration, and serves as clerk to the Quorum Court and County Court. Two-year term.
Office: Circuit Clerk
Keeps records for the circuit courts, files deeds and mortgages, and issues some court documents. Two-year term.
Office: County Treasurer
Receives and disburses county funds and keeps the county's books. Two-year term.
Office: County Assessor
Determines the value of real estate and personal property in the county for tax purposes. Two-year term.
Office: County Collector
Collects property taxes and distributes the money to the county, cities, and school districts. Two-year term.
Office: County Coroner
Determines the cause and manner of death for cases that require investigation. Two-year term.
Office: County Surveyor
Handles official property surveys for the county when requested. Two-year term. Some counties leave this office vacant.
Office: Constable
A township-level peace officer with limited law enforcement duties. Two-year term. Not every township fills this position.
City Offices
Office: Mayor
The chief executive of a city or town. Duties vary by the type of government (mayor-council, city manager, or city administrator form). Term length is set by the city — typically four years.
Office: City Council Member / Alderman
Members of the city's legislative body. They pass city ordinances, approve the city budget, and set local policy on things like zoning and public safety. Four-year terms (staggered in most cities).
Office: City Clerk / City Clerk-Treasurer
Keeps city records, handles minutes of council meetings, and in many towns also manages city finances. Term length varies.
Office: City Attorney
In some cities this is an elected position; in others it's appointed. Advises the city on legal matters and prosecutes violations of city ordinances.
Office: Municipal / District Judge (City Court)
Some smaller cities still elect a city-level judge who hears violations of city ordinances and minor misdemeanors.
School & Other Districts
Office: School Board Member
Elected members of a local school district board. They hire the superintendent, adopt the district budget and tax millage, set policy, and approve curriculum. Five-year terms are typical, elected in nonpartisan district races.
Office: Improvement District Commissioner
Some areas elect commissioners for special districts — fire protection, water, road, or suburban improvement districts — that tax property to pay for specific services.
To run for any of these offices, you'll typically need to be a registered voter, a resident of the area you want to represent, and free of felony convictions. Filing periods, fees, and signature requirements are set by state law and the Secretary of State's office.