Conway residents vote today on new mayor

Conway voters are heading to the polls to choose a new mayor.

Tuesday’s special election comes after the sudden death of Mayor Gregory Martin in September; Martin was serving his fourth term as mayor.

There are four candidates who are running for mayor, Mayor pro-tem Alys Lawson, Councilwoman Vivian Chestnut, former councilman Leslie McIver, and political newcomer Russ Calhoun.

Lawson said, “With the changes that we face and the growth that we’re facing, the mayor of Conway needs to be prepared on all these issues, have a vision for Conway and also be a leader that can unite groups of people in the community.”

McIver said, “I have a lot of experience on so many different categories, until I want to bring all of that to the table I have been called a consensus builder and that is precisely what Conway needs at this particular time.”

Chestnut said, “I’m very conservative, I don’t believe in going into debt that we can’t pay, I don’t like using the reserve fund for things that we don’t need to be spending money for.”

Calhoun said, “Why would we keep someone in there that’s not helping this, this fighting against every move we’re making to try and advance and make Conway a better place we need some new blood in there whether it’s me or somebody else, somebody’s got to step in and do it.”

The polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The votes are expected to be counted at Conway city hall once the polls close.

If a run-off election is necessary, it will be held on Tuesday, December 23.