Teeter wins special election for late Arkansas representative’s seat

Republican Bill Teeter will serve the remainder of the late Rep. Stan Berry’s term after winning a special election for the Arkansas River Valley seat Tuesday.

All 41 votes cast in the election were in favor of Teeter, the sole candidate, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office.

The retired Russellville dispatcher and volunteer firefighter secured the Republican nomination after winning a special GOP runoff in June. Because no candidates from other parties filed to run for the seat, Teeter was unopposed in Tuesday’s election. 

Teeter said Wednesday morning he’s looking forward to honoring and being the voice of the people of House District 44, which includes portions of Pope and Van Buren counties.

“I’m excited but I’m mainly ready to get to work,” he said. “I’m really thrilled to just be there.”

A swearing-in ceremony will be scheduled after the election results are certified. Teeter will serve the remainder of Berry’s term, which ends in January. 

Teeter also earned the Republican nomination for House District 44 in a separate special election in June. He will also be unopposed in November’s general election to serve a two-year term.

Teeter has been attending legislative meetings this summer to better understand the work he’ll be doing at the state Capitol. He’ll learn even more during a boot camp for House members-elect next Monday and Tuesday. 

Cecillea Pond-Mayo, chief information officer for the Arkansas House of Representatives, said the House has hosted similar orientation sessions in the past, but House Speaker Brian Evans saw an opportunity to expand those efforts this year. 

“With 17 members-elect unopposed in the general election, he believed an early orientation would give them additional time to become familiar with the legislative process before taking office in January,” she said. 

The two-day session will include everything from staff introductions to parliamentary procedure to help members-elect prepare for all the information they’ll be expected to know before the General Assembly convenes in January, Pond-Mayo said. 

“While we traditionally hold a comprehensive Legislative Institute in December for all newly elected members, this condensed session gives members-elect who do not have a general election opponent an early opportunity to begin learning the legislative process,” she said. 

Teeter’s election will give Republicans a 79-20 majority in the Arkansas House. 

Rep. Austin McCollum, a Bentonville Republican, resigned Wednesday following allegations of domestic violence. McCollum was arrested over the weekend after punching his wife in the face and repeatedly slamming her head against the ground, according to an affidavit filed in state court.

McCollum, who has served in the House since 2017, opted not to seek reelection and instead is running for Benton County judge. He won the Republican nomination for the seat in March.