Shipley Moves to Primary Runoff

Arkansas’ June 12 primary runoff will include a race between Mary Gay Shipley, owner of That Bookstore in Blytheville, and another Blytheville resident, Monty Hodges. The two are running on the Democratic ticket for the right to represent District 55 in the Arkansas House. The winner of the runoff will have no opposition in the general election, according to the Arkansas News Bureau. Shipley garnered enough votes in Tuesday’s primary to force a runoff.

In late February, Shipley announced in an e-mail that “it was a time for a change” and that it was her hope that someone would want to purchase the store and carry on the TBIB tradition in Blytheville. On Monday, February 27, she announced that she would be filing election papers to run for the District 55 seat in the Arkansas House as a Democrat. At the time, Shipley told ArkansasBusiness.com, she wanted to take her business skills to Little Rock to serve her area. “I hope to give the Delta not just another voice, but a strong voice of integrity, experience and loyalty," she said.

More information about Shipley’s candidacy is available here.