News

TWO SEEK COUNTY CORONER POSITION

BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, November 1, 2008 11:40 PM CDT

Only one political race is being contested county wide in 2008, and in that one, two political newcomers are seeking to become Jefferson County coroner.

Democrat Chad Kelley, currently the chief deputy coroner, and Republican Greg Maxwell, who works for Federal Express, are contesting for the position currently held by County Coroner Holly Watkins-Sperry, who is retiring at the end of the year.

The position pays $42,998 plus benefits annually.

Kelley, a 1995 graduate of Watson Chapel High School, graduated with honors from Southeast Arkansas College in 1998, and has worked in the coroner’s office for eight years.

He has completed the Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course at St. Louis University School of Medicine, sponsored by the Division of Forensic and Environmental Pathology, as well as training in child injury investigation and domestic related homicides.

Maxwell, a Pine Bluff native and 1981 graduate of Pine Bluff High School, said at a forum sponsored by the NAACP last month that he had compassion and had spent a lot of time volunteering at various places, including nursing homes. He also admitted he had no hands on experience in the coroner’s job.

“I’m a voting resident of Jefferson County and that qualifies me to run for the position,” Maxwell said.

On Tuesday night, The Commercial will have election results throughout the evening on the Web site at www.pbcommercial.com.

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