BATESVILLE, Ark. — Lisa Ann Drake, a Republican candidate for Independence County Clerk, is seeking the open seat in the March 3, 2026, preferential primary following the retirement of longtime Clerk Tracey Mitchell.
Drake faces fellow Republican Gena Lawrence in the two-candidate race for the position, which oversees vital county records including marriage licenses, deeds, probate filings, voter registration, absentee and early voting coordination, election results certification, quorum court minutes, tax levies, board appointments, improvement districts and contracts.
A Batesville-area resident, Drake announced her candidacy in late 2025, expressing gratitude for community support and a commitment to serving the county. In a public announcement shared on social media, she stated she had been “blessed” with the opportunity to run and emphasized her readiness to lead the office with integrity and efficiency.
Drake maintains an active presence on Facebook, where she has posted campaign updates, including messages highlighting the importance of trustworthy election leadership and early voting. Supporters have publicly endorsed her, praising her as a strong choice for the role and expressing confidence in her ability to handle sensitive matters such as court document privacy.
No detailed professional background, prior public service or specific platform priorities are widely available from public candidate profiles, Ballotpedia entries or campaign announcements. She is listed as an active candidate with the Arkansas Secretary of State ethics disclosures and appears on official 2026 primary rosters from the Association of Arkansas Counties.
The Independence County Clerk’s office, located at 192 E. Main Street in Batesville, manages probate court functions (decedent estates, guardianships, adoptions, small estates), voter rolls and election processes in coordination with the county Election Commission.
Early voting for the primary ran from Feb. 17 through March 2, with Election Day on March 3. Voters can check sample ballots and polling locations via the Arkansas Secretary of State website at candidates.arkansas.gov or contact the Independence County Election Commission.
For more information on Drake’s campaign, follow her Facebook updates. All candidates are presumed qualified unless otherwise noted by election authorities.
