By Ray King
Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson said Thursday afternoon that he will probably have to call a special meeting of the Quorum Court to name a replacement for Circuit Clerk Lafayette Woods Sr., who announced Wednesday that he would be retiring Oct. 1.
Contacted by phone, Robinson, who was in West Memphis looking at buildings being constructed by the P3 said:
The P3 Group was selected to handle the construction of a new Jefferson County Health Department building, a new Coroner’s Office and a new Veteran’s Service Office.
Robinson said he was surprised when he got the message from Woods, who has been in office for 12 years.
“I had no idea that this was about to occur or getting ready (to happen),” Robinson said. “I had not spoken to him in a while so when I got that E-Mail, I was really surprised.”
In his retirement letter to members of the Quorum Court and to Robinson, Woods said “due to unforeseen circumstances, I have decided after giving considerable thought to this significant decision that I retire to focus more on my personal health and family.”
Woods was reelected to the office in 2018 for a four-year term which will expire on Dec. 31, 2022.
Robinson also talked about Woods’ choice for a replacement.
Under Arkansas law, if the Quorum Court were to appoint Bishop as the Circuit Clerk to finish Woods’ current term, she would be ineligible to run for the office in 2022.
Robinson said he had hoped to wait until the next meeting of the Quorum Court to name a replacement for Woods but because the clerk’s office works so closely with the courts and the judges, “it’s very important that we make this happen pretty quickly.”
