PINE BLUFF -- The Jefferson County Quorum Court has declared a vacancy after the resignation of Delton Wright, a District 3 justice of the peace who resigned after it was disclosed that he is living outside of the district.

Wright resigned Oct. 7 after the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published stories revealing that he had sold the apartment complex he was claiming as his residence more than a year ago. Although Wright continued to claim he was living in District 3, he tendered his resignation, saying that he intends to run for the District 4 justice of the peace position currently held by Patricia Royal Johnson.

Wright owns a home at 19 West Southern Pines Drive that he purchased in 2004, according to real estate records. The house is in District 4.

The Quorum Court passed a resolution Monday to officially declare a vacancy, giving County Judge Gerald Robinson 10 days to notify Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Once the governor has been notified, it will be up to him to appoint a successor to fill the remainder of Wright's term, which expires Dec. 31, 2020.

"We have declared a vacancy and asked the governor to fill it," said Robinson, who mentioned he is considering people to recommend for the position.

Wright, a Democrat, was elected for a 10th consecutive term without opposition in either the May 2018 primary election or the November general election. He was sworn into office in January 2019.

Robinson said he had heard from one person interested in filling the vacancy, but that person also lives outside of the district and is ineligible to serve in the position.

Chelsea O'Kelley, a spokesman for Hutchinson, said the first step in selecting a replacement is for the governor's office to receive official notification that a vacancy exists. It had not received official notification as of Wednesday afternoon, O'Kelley said.

Once the resolution is received, the governor will appoint a qualified elector from within the district to fill the position.

There is no required timeline for the governor to make the appointment, O'Kelley said.

State Desk on 10/24/2019