Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Jonesboro City Council Election 2026

1 of 12

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council Ward 5 Position 1 · 1 seat

LJ BryantIncumbentJonesboro City Council member for Ward 5, Position 1 and a local businessman.2sourced
Patti LackCommunity advocate and familiar voice at Jonesboro City meetings for over eight years.3sourced
Vince PearcySmall business owner and artist, and former Craighead County Justice of the Peace.2sourced
James Carl Wilson Jr.Candidate for Jonesboro City Council Ward 5, Position 1 in the November 3, 2026 election.1sourced

One council seat has a contest on the November 3 ballot: Ward 5, Position 1, voted on by Ward 5 residents only.

3 notes on these statements

Ballotpedia's list of the November 3, 2026 Craighead County general election shows one Jonesboro City Council contest, Ward 5, Position 1, with four candidates. Ballotpedia

LJ Bryant holds the Ward 5, Position 1 seat now. The council's contact list names him as the member. City of Jonesboro · Aug 3, 2026

Jonesboro voters also decide on November 3 whether to levy a five-eighths-cent sales tax for public safety. KAIT · Sep 2, 2026

Start here

Match quiz1 questions · answers stay on your phone What council decidesPublic safety sales tax, City budget and pay, Streets and sidewalks funding Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Public safety sales tax

Where it standsJonesboro voters will decide on November 3 whether to levy a citywide five-eighths-cent sales tax for public safety, after the council placed it on the ballot.

What's on the tableIf voters approve, the council would appropriate the revenue, which state law would limit to public safety purposes.

The ordinance levying the tax does not take effect unless a majority of voters approve it. Jonesboro Right Now · Sep 2, 2026
Petitioners collected 4,239 valid signatures; 3,592 were required. Jonesboro Right Now · Sep 2, 2026
Safety First for Jonesboro has said the revenue would be dedicated to police, fire and E-911 dispatch needs, including new facilities and additional personnel. Talk Business & Politics
The ordinance restricts the revenue to public safety services, initiatives, facilities, infrastructure, maintenance and operations. Talk Business & Politics

City budget and pay

Where it standsThe council approved the 2026 operating budget of $85 million in December 2025, 11-1; the next council will take up later budgets.

What's on the tableThe council will adopt annual operating budgets, including pay, staffing and capital spending.

The 2026 budget totals $85 million, with $54 million for salaries, personnel costs and first responder training. Jonesboro Right Now · Dec 17, 2025
City employees will see a 2% step raise and 2% cost-of-living adjustment. Jonesboro Right Now · Dec 17, 2025
The 2025 budget was $84 million. Jonesboro Right Now · Dec 17, 2025

Streets and sidewalks funding

Where it standsThe 2026 budget plans reserve funding and capital money for street, sidewalk and drainage work.

What's on the tableThe council will decide how much of future budgets goes to street maintenance, sidewalks and drainage.

$3 million of the city's reserve funding is planned for street infrastructure and maintenance. Jonesboro Right Now · Dec 17, 2025
The budget appropriates $250,000 for ADA-compliant sidewalks. Jonesboro Right Now · Dec 17, 2025
The budget appropriates $1.1 million for "recurring capital improvements" such as drainage improvements, industrial rail maintenance, and economic development. Jonesboro Right Now · Dec 17, 2025

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. How should the council treat the mayor's proposed annual budget?

Key dates

Absentee and overseas ballots mailedCraighead CountySep 18, 2026
Voter registration deadlineCraighead CountyOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsCraighead CountyOct 19, 2026
Early voting endsCraighead CountyNov 2, 2026
Election Day (polls 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)Craighead CountyNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 1 on this ballot

12 council seats. The council decides by a 7-vote majority.

The Jonesboro City Council has twelve members: a Position 1 and a Position 2 seat in each of six wards. City of Jonesboro · Aug 3, 2026
Position 1 council members are voted on by residents of their own ward only; the remaining council members are elected citywide. KAIT · May 26, 2022

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