Bill Teeter, a retired Russellville police dispatcher and volunteer firefighter, won the Republican nomination Tuesday to fill the state House seat previously held by the late Rep. Stan Berry.
Teeter secured the nomination during a party committee meeting, defeating two other candidates to become the Republican standard-bearer for the November special election. The seat represents House District 84, which covers portions of the Arkansas River Valley.
The vacancy arose following Berry’s death earlier this year after more than a decade representing the district in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Teeter brings decades of public service to the race. As a dispatcher for the Russellville Police Department, he handled emergency calls and coordinated responses for the city of approximately 60,000 people. He has also served as a volunteer firefighter, contributing to firefighting efforts in the Russellville area.
The special election will be held in November, giving voters in the district less than six months to choose their representative. The winner will serve out the remainder of Berry’s term, which would have ended in January 2027.
Berry was first elected to the House in 2012 and served continuously until his death. During his tenure, he represented constituents in Pope and Yell counties, focusing on local infrastructure, education funding, and agricultural issues important to the river valley region.
Teeter will face the Democratic nominee in the general election. The Democratic candidate had not been selected at the time of the committee meeting, though a nomination process is expected to proceed in the coming weeks.
The race is expected to draw attention as both parties compete for the open seat in a district that has historically leaned Republican. Arkansas River Valley voters have typically supported conservative candidates in state legislative races, though Democratic candidates have occasionally won local offices in the region.
For residents of District 84, the special election means a new representative will be in place before the 2025 legislative session begins. The winner will immediately begin weighing in on state budget decisions, education policy, and local projects that affect communities from Russellville to Dardanelle.
Voters in the district can expect more information about candidate forums and polling locations as the November election approaches. Those interested in learning more about voter registration or polling locations can visit the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website or contact their local county clerk’s office.
Source: Arkansas Times
