CamdenNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Camden Mayor & City Council Election 2026

8 of 8 council seats are on the ballot, with 11 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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Election day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council Ward 1 Position 2

Unopposed

City Council Ward 4 Position 2

Unopposed

The mayor and all eight council seats appear on the Ouachita County 2026 listing. Only the mayor's race and Ward 1, Position 1 have two candidates; whether the seven single-candidate council seats appear on the printed ballot could not be confirmed.

Election day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

What the next council decides

01Housing for a growing workforce2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the aldermen approved a zoning change allowing multi-family housing in C-2 districts. Defense-industry hiring around Camden is adding jobs.

What's on the tableWhether and how the city makes it easier for developers to build apartments and other housing.

02Police staffing and part-time officers2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn 2025 the aldermen split on budget amendments for part-time police officers; one was passed with the mayor also voting yes.

What's on the tableHow the city staffs and pays for its police department in future budgets.

03Fire and EMS vehicles3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn 2025 the council approved a new pumper truck, a budget amendment for an ambulance and the purchase of a used ambulance, with one alderman voting no each time.

What's on the tableHow the city replaces and pays for emergency vehicles.

04License plate reader cameras2 sourced facts

Where it standsInterim Police Chief Cortney Parker announced in September 2026 that Camden would cancel its Flock Safety contract.

What's on the tableWhether and how the city uses automated license plate readers or other surveillance technology.

  • Interim Chief Cortney Parker said she reviewed the contract and concerns about transparency and discrepancies before deciding to terminate it. KATV
  • Parker said the cameras will be covered and not used by police until Flock retrieves them. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Sep 25, 2026
05Youth facilities and programs2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe Sportsplex reported 629 youth participants and the city was nearing completion of the Teen Town building in June 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city funds and operates youth recreation space, including rental terms for Teen Town.

  • Sportsplex chairman Mike Sherman told aldermen 629 children signed up for baseball, softball, soccer or NFL Flag football in the past year. Radio Works · Jun 10, 2026
  • The aldermen scheduled a special meeting for June 15, 2026 to discuss rental of the Teen Town community building and set a rental price. Radio Works · Jun 10, 2026
2 notes on these statements

The City Council page lists Ed Winters as the Ward 1, Position 1 alderman. City of Camden

The Ouachita County 2026 listing shows James Bell and Roneisha Flowers as the candidates for Ward 1, Position 1. Ballotpedia

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should Camden add part-time police officers to its budget?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Camden is runWho runs Camden, and what it costsThe city treasurer earns $60,000. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

Key dates

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 8 on this ballot

8 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

  • The city is organized under the mayor-aldermanic form of government, with eight council members elected from four wards. City of Camden
  • The mayor presides over council meetings and votes only on matters to prevent a tie; the mayor has veto power, which the council can override with a two-thirds majority. City of Camden
  • The City Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 206 Van Buren St. NE. City of Camden

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