Little Rock voters say no to new sales tax, yes to incumbent city directors – Arkansas Times

A bid to increase sales tax rates in the city of Little Rock failed, and two incumbents on the city board – Joan Adcock and Antwan Phillips – appear to have held on to their seats in Tuesday’s election. 

The sales tax proposal was actually split into two taxes. Question 1 is a permanent, ⅜-cent sales tax for general operational purposes, and Question 2 is a ⅝-cent sales tax that would last 10 years and be used for general capital purposes, like building two sports complexes in Little Rock.

Unofficial election results, which don’t include absentee and provisional ballots, show the tax plan losing decisively, with 28,793 votes for Question 1, and 42,532 against. On Question 2, 26,284 voted for the tax, 45,054 voted against.

Mayor Frank Scott Jr. posted a statement in response to the tax plan’s failure:

While we are disappointed in today’s sales tax results, we respect the decision of Little Rock voters. We will continue to improve quality of life and place initiatives and keep moving forward to take Little Rock to higher heights.

— Frank Scott, Jr. (@FrankScottJr) November 6, 2024

In the races for at-large city director seats, incumbents ruled the day. Joan Adcock won 34,794 votes, claiming a narrow victory over Blake Tierney, with 31,852 votes.

Antwan Phillips easily held on to his seat with 43,858 votes. Jordan Thomas won 21,622 votes.

Tierney watched results roll in at an escape room at the Outlets of Little Rock. The first-time  candidate for the Little Rock Board of Directors pulled together a coalition of supporters from across the city in his challenge to 32-year incumbent Joan Adcock. A group of about 15 or 20, with more people filing in by the minute, gathered in a back room for Tierney’s election watch party.

There were no TVs blaring news updates, just people chatting and snacking. Lost Forty Love Honey cans and plastic, stemmed glasses with red wine populate the tables. Organizers from Arkansas Community Organizations, which endorsed Tierney, were there as well, grazing on what appeared to be Chipotle bowls.  

“Honestly, we’ve done such a good job,” Tierney said. “So many people have become engaged in the process [and] gotten to know all about what a city director does. We’ve had so many volunteers, so many people that contributed to the campaign.”

“Whatever the results, we’re gonna be proud of what we did,” Tierney said. 

***

I arrived at incumbent City Director Antwan Phillips’ watch party, emphasis on party, around 9 p.m. At this point, the unofficial early voting results for Pulaski County were out and showed Phillips with a substantial lead over challenger Jordan Thomas, and the feeling of celebration was in the air. 

Held at Agasi 7, a rooftop bar at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn, Phillips’ party was the opposite of Tierney’s. Music was bumping, people were dancing and a TV behind the well-stocked bar played presidential election updates on mute. The sparse menu’s offerings included four mozzarella sticks with marinara for $14. 

I spied Phillips talking with guests and pulled him away for a quick chat when I had an opening.

“It’s a great crowd. I mean, you look around this room, [there’s a] lot of diversity, ages, different parts of town. This is what Little Rock looks like,” Phillips said. “Obviously there’s a bigger race going on, I understand that, but people showed up and said ‘Hey, we want to be where Antwan is.’ That means a lot.”