Tucker not seeking re-election as Clark County Judge; Rogers makes candidacy announcement

Clark County Judge Troy Tucker | Clark County AR government website

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

Clark County Judge Troy Tucker announced publicly Tuesday that he is not seeking re-election.

“It’s just time,” he said at a public meeting held at Arkadelphia’s Fairfield Inn & Suites. “I don’t know that I have it in me,” said Tucker, 62, of the five-year commitment of holding office of the top county executive. Tucker, currently in his third term, said he informed county employees of his decision Tuesday morning. His four-year term as judge ends Dec. 31, 2026.

Tucker led the Clark County Sheriff’s Office through most of the 1990s through 2005 before resigning from that post, then had a stint as Pig Pit restaurateur and lawman at the Hot Springs Police Department. He re-entered the political realm in 2016, when he ran a successful campaign against former county Judge Ron Daniell.

Tucker touted his accomplishments as judge, noting improvements to the county landfill, courthouse and library, as well as securing grant funding for each of the county’s fire departments, and purchasing the National Guard Armory and, recently, adjoining properties with the goal of expanding county government facilities, including the possibility of a new jail.

Further, Tucker guided the county through the recent 911 dispatch consolidation; made preparations for AWIN capabilities for first responders; is still in negotiations to install a rail crossing at Richwoods; helped secure over $2 million in grant funding for a regional trail system linking existing Arkadelphia trails to those at DeGray Lake; and led county government through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tucker did not endorse any candidate when he made his announcement public.

In a separate move on Tuesday, Bill Rogers, Arkadelphia resident and owner of AutomoBill’s, took to Facebook to announce his candidacy for the county judge’s position, saying, “After months of prayer and consideration, I’m excited to share one of the biggest decisions we have ever made” and vowed more details would follow.

The candidate filing period for the 2026 preferential primary election will begin at noon on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, and end at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 12.