Kevin Jeffery announces candidacy for Independence County Judge

A Southside resident has added his name to the race for Independence County Judge.

Kevin Jeffery (pictured), 54, announced his candidacy Monday evening in a media release.

A graduate of the final senior class at Desha High School, Jeffery is currently employed at FutureFuel in the research and process development department where he is the technologist for the plant’s 60 million gallon-per-year biodiesel process.

Jeffery was born in Batesville and is a sixth-generation Arkansan. In the release, he said he wants to “… give the voters an option of someone who has worked in the private sector for decades and understands the responsibility of being a good steward of the money provided to the county by the taxpayers.”

Jeffery said he sees the role of county judge as providing financial accountability, along with its services, and making sure the county is poised to attract new industry. He said a county judge should work to promote the many resources Independence County can provide.

“I would humbly consider it an honor and a privilege to serve Independence County as your Judge,” Jeffery said in the release. “I will diligently carry out the duties of county judge, and I will work hard for our county. May God bless Independence County and the great state of Arkansas. I appreciate your support.”

More from the release…

My name is Kevin Jeffery and I live in Arkansas’ newest city of Southside. I was born in Batesville Arkansas 54 years ago as a 6th generation Arkansan. My great grandfather, Jehoiada Jeffery, was a veteran of the War of 1812 and homesteaded on the White River in this Arkansas territory in the year 1816. Jehoiada was a member of the territory legislature 20 years prior to Arkansas statehood. My roots run deep in Arkansas and Independence County is not only my home but the gem of the Ozarks. I would rather live here than anywhere on earth, and I am seeking the position of Independence County Judge.

I want to give the voters an option of someone who has worked in the private sector for decades and understands the responsibility of being a good steward of the money provided to the county by the taxpayers. Financial accountability, while providing services to the taxpayer, is an essential role of the county judge. Another goal is for Independence County to be poised to attract new industry and work to promote the many resources our county can provide.

My wife Linda and I have a 19-year-old daughter, Summer Jeffery, a graduate of Southside High School. She is currently attending her second year of college.  Linda is a graduate of Batesville High School, a cosmetologist, and also works for Independence County Offroad. I was in the last graduating class of Desha High School. 

After attending Lyon College for one year on an academic scholarship, I began working for the Fortune 500 Company Kodak (Eastman/FutureFuel) in the Research & Process Development department. While working for Kodak, I took an additional 14 consecutive semesters of math and science as a non-traditional student. Working for Kodak/Eastman also afforded me the opportunity to participate in World Wide Technical conferences and visit other Eastman plant sites. As part of my job, I have worked directly with people from Wilmington Delaware to Edinburgh Scotland. I am currently the technologist for FutureFuel’s 60 million gallon per year biodiesel process. I have owned rental property as well as a beauty salon for many years. I am also a member of the international standards organization, ASTM International.

I would humbly consider it an honor and a privilege to serve Independence County as your Judge. I will diligently carry out the duties of county judge, and I will work hard for our county. May God bless Independence County and the great state of Arkansas. I appreciate your support.

Sincerely, Kevin Jeffery

Other candidates who have announced running for the office of Independence County Judge are Bryan Anderson, Benjamin Rogers, and Batesville Fire Chief Brent Gleghorn.

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