Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Pine Bluff City Council Election 2026

4 of 8

council seats up

4 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 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 1 Position 2 · 1 seat

Latisha BrunsonIncumbentWard 1 councilmember who chairs the council's Traffic & Aviation committee. She also serves on the Development & Planning and Public Safety committees.2sourced
John FenleyLibertarian Party of Arkansas nominee for Pine Bluff City Council Ward 1.2sourced

City Council Ward 2 Position 2 · Unopposed

Glen Brown Jr.IncumbentWard 2 councilmember who chairs the council's Public Safety committee. He also serves on the Ordinances & Resolutions, Traffic & Aviation and Ways & Means committees.2sourced

City Council Ward 3 Position 2 · Unopposed

Jeffrey NealWatson Chapel High School principal and real estate business owner.2sourced

City Council Ward 4 Position 2 · Unopposed

Steven Mays Sr.IncumbentWard 4 councilmember who chairs the council's Ordinances & Resolutions committee. He also serves on the Development & Planning, Public Works and Ways & Means committees.3sourced

Voters in each of four wards fill that ward's Position 2 council seat. Only Ward 1 is contested; the Ward 2, 3 and 4 candidates are unopposed.

2 notes on these statements

Steven Mays Sr. announced after winning the March 2026 primary that he will retire from the City Council effective Dec. 31. Pine Bluff Commercial

Latisha Brunson was not present for the April 2026 Urban Renewal vote, so no vote is listed for her on that item. Pine Bluff Commercial · Apr 7, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Yvonne DentonCouncilmember, Ward 22sourced William FellsCouncilmember, Ward 32sourced Lloyd Holcomb Jr.Councilmember, Ward 12sourced Bruce LockettCouncilmember, Ward 42sourced

Start here

Match quiz2 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesRental housing standards, Urban Renewal and blighted areas, City sales tax Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Early voting begins

Mon, Oct 19, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Rental housing standards

Where it standsThe council voted down a proposed minimum-standards ordinance for rental housing in June 2026.

What's on the tableWhether the city adopts minimum health and safety standards for rental properties and how they would be enforced.

The ordinance would have required landlords to provide basic services such as hot and cold water, working plumbing and electrical service, heating and air conditioning, and pest control. Pine Bluff Commercial · Jun 16, 2026
Proposed fines were $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 for a third. Pine Bluff Commercial · Jun 16, 2026
Five council members voted against it and three voted for it. Pine Bluff Commercial · Jun 16, 2026

Urban Renewal and blighted areas

Where it standsA resolution adding four areas to Urban Renewal plans was defeated in April 2026 after the mayor cast the deciding vote.

What's on the tableWhether the city expands the areas where its Urban Renewal Agency can pursue redevelopment and outside funding.

The resolution would have designated four additional areas as blighted so the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency could pursue redevelopment and compete for outside funding. Pine Bluff Commercial · Apr 7, 2026
Bruce Lockett, who sponsored the legislation, said it did not commit funding but allowed the city to identify areas and apply for grants. Pine Bluff Commercial · Apr 7, 2026
William Fells said he believed the ultimate objective was to let the city commit matching dollars in the future. Pine Bluff Commercial · Apr 7, 2026

City sales tax

Where it standsIn December 2025 the council voted down a resolution that would have let voters decide a 1-cent sales and use tax in March.

What's on the tableWhether the city again seeks new revenue from voters for improvements, equipment and youth programs.

Supporters said the revenue could help tear down burned and dilapidated buildings, buy equipment for first responders and fund youth programs. KATV · Dec 22, 2025
Council members also pointed out that Pine Bluff voters rejected two tax proposals in recent years. KATV · Dec 22, 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. Should the city set minimum health and safety standards for rental housing?
2. Should the city expand the areas covered by its Urban Renewal plans?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Early voting beginsArkansas Secretary of StateOct 19, 2026
Election dayArkansas Secretary of StateNov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Yvonne Denton, William Fells, Lloyd Holcomb Jr., Bruce Lockett4 on this ballot

8 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

The City of Pine Bluff is divided into four wards, with two council members listed for each ward. City of Pine Bluff
The City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Monday of every month unless special circumstances dictate otherwise. City of Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff's mayor is elected by voters; Vivian Flowers defeated Libertarian John Fenley in the November 2024 mayoral race. KARK · Nov 6, 2024

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