Support Reagan elected to a third term as governor of the state with a substantial victory over Republican Woody Freeman . The Arkansas congressional delegation now stands at two Democrats in the Senate, three Democrats and one Republican in the House of Representatives , a net loss of one Republican seat in the House . Harding University students were particularly active and involved in the 1984 election. For most of them it was their first ballot and one to long remember. College Republicans, a campus organization, sponsored a voting drive and over 800 students registered to vote locally. Even though there was some controversy over students voting locally, students were encouraged to go to the polls and cast th'eir ballots according to their consciences. Most of the studenis voted in Searcy Ward 4B at the Heritage Center. With the exception of the governor's race, the students voted overwhelmingly Republican for every office. The Presidential results were Ronald Reagan 563 votes, David Bergland , a Libertarian candidate, two votes , Lyndon La· Rouche, the Independent Democrat , one vote, and Walter Mondale 17 votes. In the U.S. Senate race Congressman Ed Bethune had 485 votes and David Pryor 54 votes. The student vote in the U.S. Senate race put Congressman Ed Bethune over the top in his own county, which is one of the few counties that Mr. Bethune had in the plus column . In the U.S. Congress race Judy Petty led the three candidates with 482 votes to Jim Taylor's 10 votes and Tommy Robinson's 51 votes. There was almost an equal split for governor. Bill Clinton received 236 and Woody Freeman 267 votes. Students voted 204 to 84 for ordinance 675 and 194 to 77 for ordinance 674. Both of these had to do with annexation of sections outside Searcy to the city limits . In the county judges' race, Democrat Waylon Heathscott received 59 votes and Republican Gerald Parish 338 votes. W,th the exception of the Presidential race, the students were largely out-of-step with the state wide results. This was especially true with some of the amendments. For example, amendment 67 which would have increased the sales tax for the benefit of the Game and Fish Commission failed state-wide by a 70 to 30 percent margin. The students box voted 289 to 119 for the amendment. While the 1984 Preside.ntial election broke many records , it will not go down in history as the most exciting. According to the polls, Walter Mondale never had a chance. He trailed badly all along and on election night only the margin of victory held the major interest. With the exception of the Second Congressional District race , the state and local elections were equally dull . The Democrats took all of the races. Yet, significantly different from the past , student inv'olvement and participation was high with many young voters casting their first ballot. For many, the 1984 election did bring victory and excitement iIf& - Dr. Thomas M. Howard Reagan is the Man of the Hour. Newly reelected President Ronald Reagan waves to his fans as he walks with First Lady Nancy. _ photo by Associated Press. "rm Making My Vote Count." Tom Hobbs casts his vote in one of the booths set up in the American Heritage BUilding. - photo by Wes HoI/and . Presidential Election 31
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