I’m Amelia May Johnson and I’m running for Justice of the Peace, District 8, in Clark County, Arkansas to represent the silent majority who refuse to register with a political party. Although 92% of registered voters in Clark County are unaffiliated, I’m the only independent candidate and not a single member of the Quorum Court is an independent. Endorsed by the Reform Party, I’m deeply committed to uniting a broad coalition around fiscal responsibility, electoral reform, and constitutional rights.
I grew up here in the Amity area, graduated Centerpoint High School in 2020, and attended local churches of various denominations. I’m a web designer by profession and the first transgender candidate in Clark County. I would describe my political ideology as ‘Christian Democracy’, because my political beliefs are an extension of my interpretation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I strongly support religious freedom for those of all faiths, as well as our Republic and its Constitution. I’d also consider myself to be a Progressive Conservative along the lines of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Justices of the Peace serve on the Quorum Court, which is composed of nine to fifteen members depending on population; Clark County has eleven. As the name implies, it used to exercise both judicial and legislative powers, but a state constitutional amendment transferred the former to a separate County Court. JP is a position comparable to County Commissioner in other states and the QC is the county’s legislative body. District 8 is in the north-western part of the county, including Amity and part of Alpine. With a population of 1,878, it’s one of the more rural districts.
I’m running a populist campaign centered around the issues that matter, like tax cuts, safe housing, and ranked choice voting. If elected, I hope to reign in the Economic Development Corporation and ensure it spends taxpayer money fairly, responsibly, and transparently by repealing and replacing the liberal guidelines ordinance passed earlier this year. I’m pro-life for the whole life and strongly support the Second Amendment. Another issue I care about is updating the county’s abandoned website in order to provide up to date information and a way for constituents to contact their elected officials.
The odds are up against me, running to unseat an entrenched, Republican incumbent in an R+70 district, but I’ve met all my fundraising goals (100% funded by individuals, by the way) and have supporters on both sides of the isle, including Republicans, who believe in putting people over party to find real solutions and make this county great. I ask the People of District 8 to please vote independent this November! Thank you!
