One more wrinkle in Little Rock’s fraught race for mayor

Blue Hog Report argues on this thread that Glen Schwarz, a candidate for Little Rock mayor, isn’t eligible to run due to a previous marijuana conviction. He advised the Democrat-Gazette that the conviction was expunged in 2010. A state regulation handed since then says expungement for sure crimes doesn’t restore the flexibility to hunt public workplace. The exact cost wasn’t listed within the article and the state courtroom information system doesn’t replicate it, based mostly on a search I simply did. However with an expungement that might be anticipated.

This Democrat-Gazette article in 2010 when Schwarz ran for mayor recounts that he pleaded responsible in 1995 to felony possession of a managed substance — a pound of marijuana — and supply of a managed substance, in addition to sustaining a drug premises and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and a choose expunged his report earlier this 12 months so he may maintain workplace if elected.

The problem right now: Any votes counted for Schwarz, not thought of a critical candidate, COULD have an effect on whether or not a candidate will get the mandatory 40 % vote required to be elected with no runoff. Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Steve Landers and Greg Henderson are additionally looking for the seat.

Will somebody go to courtroom to problem the counting of votes for Schwarz? Early voting begins tomorrow. Votes will probably be counted Nov. 8

A D-G search additionally  confirmed a 1995 article additional underscoring his conviction of a felony.

It mentioned he confronted a penalty vary of 4 to 36 years in jail if he had been convicted by a jury, however accepted 5 years of probation and a $500 positive, although he acknowledged the lack of his proper to vote. . A narrative in Saturday’s version gave an incorrect penalty vary. 5 years’ probation and a $500 positive, he can take. However dropping his proper to vote –and to be elected –is one other matter altogether.

“I’m a convicted felon, however I’m free,” he mentioned hours after Pulaski County Circuit Decide John Langston accepted his responsible plea and handed down the probation and positive on costs of supply of a managed substance, possession of marijuana with intent to ship, sustaining a drug premises and possession of drug paraphernalia. His lawyer, Kent Krause, mentioned Schwarz additionally may have confronted as much as $70,000 in fines. 

The article quoted Schwarz additional,  “The penalties don’t damage as badly as dropping my citizenship. In fact, I’ll proceed my citizen activism.”