Dean holds off JP challenger

Democrat has no GOP opponent for District 5 seat

BY LINDSAY RUEBENS

LITTLE ROCK — After enduring the first runoff she’s ever faced during her 31-year tenure,
Wilandra Dean maintained her position as the Democratic nominee for Pulaski County’s District
5 justice of the peace against Lillie McMullen in election results Tuesday night.

“I’m sunburned and tired, and I worked most of the day at the precinct that has no shade, no
trees, no nothing,” Dean said. But was it worth it? “Yes,” she said. “Yes, yes, yes.”

With all precincts reporting, the unofficial results were: Dean. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,347
McMullen. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,282

There is no Republican challenger for the seat in theNov. 2 general election.

Dean, 67, is retired. She was formerly a teacher and worked at the attorney general’s office for
16 years. She has lived in Little Rock for almost 38 years.

“I’m very pleased because Lillie just does not have the experience to be on the Quorum Court,”
Dean said. “She had not shown any interest that I could tell in the Quorum Court until the
campaign started.”

Tuesday’s race was a runoff election after Dean and McMullen came within 48 votes of each
other in the initial Democratic primary election May 18.

McMullen said this election is not the end of the political road for her.

“Well, it is what it is, and I would probably say that that it’s really a win-win situation because this
is a position that has gotten overlooked, and I think that we will hold her accountable and in the
future and pay more attention to that office,” McMullen said. “I won’t say at this time what my
plans are, but you will see me again.”

Dean, who has held the District 5 justice of the peace seat since 1979, said she was pleased to
win the election.

“I’m excited and relieved and happy and waiting for Lillie to call and congratulate me,” she said.
This article was published June 9, 2010 at 4:53 a.m.
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 06/09/2010