CAST YA VOTE: Forrest City School Board President Evetta Whitby announces bid for office of St. Francis County Clerk
Andre Johnson 
“Elections matter. Every vote counts…and you can’t take this election, or any election, for granted.” — Barack Obama, 44th President, United States of America
STANDING ON BUSINESS
For Evetta Whitby, the goal is simple.
She’s in it to win it.
An esteemed lifelong resident of Forrest City, Arkansas who’s widely regarded for her immeasurable contributions as a resolute community leader, Whitby this week officially announced her candidacy to assume the office of St. Francis County Clerk.
Currently serving her fourth term as a member of the Forrest City School Board, Whitby’s announcement to vie for her latest political seat comes approximately three years after she finished third in Forrest City’s mayoral race.
Armed with a solid public service background and community involvement, Whitby aims to bring about transparency, efficiency, and a strong sense of service to the role, the native Arkansan current Forrest City School Board President told Making Headline News during an exclusive interview.
Election Day is March 3, 2026.
According to Whitby, 53, she sensed sometime last year that she would enter the race for St. Francis County Clerk, a seat that currently occupied by incumbent Brandi H. McCoy.
By all accounts, Whitby emphasized her strategic policies are centered largely on the following pledges:
- To implement environmentally friendly practices within the office, such as reducing paper use and promoting digital solutions, contributing to a more sustainable community.
- To commit to fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development for all staff, ensuring that they have the necessary training resources to perform their duties effectively.
- To become invested in community engagement as it relates to the needs and concerns of our citizens and incorporate their feedback into office operations.
- To enhance efficiency in handling public inquiries and document processing, ensuring that constituents receive timely and effective service and,
- To maintain consistency and transparency in daily team building operations.
Aiming to enhance her impressive political tenure in a rural St. Francis County, Arkansas establishment that is named after General Nathan Bedford Forrest and is comprised of roughly 15,371 residents, according to the latest U. S. census, Whitby emphasized, among other things, that she is the right candidate to unseat McCoy, who filed her paperwork for re-election on November 3.
NEED NATIONAL MEDIA EXPOSURE? CALL TODAY: 901.690.6587
For what it’s worth, McCoy admittedly is confident she possesses the mechanics to take over as St. Francis County Clerk in the coming months.
“(I’m) confident if it’s God’s will,” Whitby told MHN. “I envision an office where every resident feels heard, valued, and empowered. I will prioritize modernizing our systems to reduce wait times, improve online access to public records, and ensure that our election processes are secure and transparent. Every vote matter, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that every citizen’s voice is counted. But I cannot do this alone. I need your support. Together, we can build a more responsive and accountable County Clerk’s office—one that reflects the values and needs of our community. I am committed to being your advocate, your partner, and your servant in this important role.
“I humbly ask the citizens of St. Francis County for your support, trust, and vote as I seek the
St. Francis County Clerk position,” Whitby continued. “Together, let’s make St. Francis County a place where every resident feels connected and empowered. Thank you for your time, your support, and your
belief in a brighter future for our community.”
A 1990 graduate of Forrest City High School and “a proud member of the esteemed” Forrest City Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Whitby acquired an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice from East Arkansas Community College. Consequently, she enrolled at Arkansas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology.
Born to the late Floyda Williams and Herbert Gates — both of Whitby’s parents died in a span of two months in 2020 — Whitby has been married to LaTwon Whitby for 32-plus years. The couple share two sons: TaJuan Whitby, 29, and JaJuan Whitby, 24.
CREATING A WINNING CULTURE
Having credited her family and solid faith walk for fueling her quest to run for the office of St. Francis County Clerk, Whitby’s rise as a well-respected public servant comes amid humble beginnings, something by which she doesn’t merely take lightly, in large part because she has managed to defy arguably the toughest of odds.
When asked to finish this sentence: If Evetta Whitby wins the office of St. Francis County Clerk, Whitby said:
“I will give God all the glory. Thank all of my supporters and continue my role as a servant in our community.”
After all, the goal is simple.
She’s in it to win it.
For more information about Evetta Whitby for St. Francis County Clerk, call 870.945.0978 or connect with her via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/EvettaWhitby4Mayor. Send email to: whitbyevetta@gmail.com.
CONNECT WITH THIS AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST FOR MEDIA EXPOSURE
WHAT’S YOUR STORY? If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.
ADVERTISE WITH US
About The Author
