RISON - Voters in the City of Kingsland will be deciding between Samantha Johnson and Karen Wiscaver for mayor of Kingsland in Tuesday’s Republican primary election.The winner will be unopposed in the November general election since no candidates have filed. Whoever is elected will begin their four-year term on Jan. 1, 2027.Wiscaver was appointed mayor in January 2025 to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Sharon Crosby, who resigned. While state law prohibits appointees to county offices from running for those same offices, there are no state laws preventing appointees to city/municipal positions from doing so.The Herald reached out to both candidates for some background information about themselves as well as their insights regarding the city. Here are their responses, verbatim, in alphabetical order:Samantha JohnsonBackground: My name is Samantha Johnson. I am married to Michael Johnson, and we are proud parents of three wonderful children: Austin (18), Ashleigh (17), and Ayden (15). My family is my greatest motivation, and we are active members of Family Church in White Hall, Ark. Faith, service, and integrity are values that guide both my personal and professional life.Experience: I hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree and am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work degree. I work as a Licensed Social Worker in hospice care, where I support patients and families during end-of-life journeys. My work requires calm leadership in emotionally intense situations, ethical decision-making, and strong communication. I have extensive experience in end-of-life care, crisis intervention, advocacy, and helping families navigate difficult systems with clarity and compassion.Every day, I sit at tables where hard conversations happen. I help families make complex decisions. I work alongside interdisciplinary teams to solve problems efficiently and respectfully. That level of responsibility has...
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