THE TIME IS NOW: Forrest City School Board President Evetta Whitby confident she could assume St. Francis County Clerk seat
Andre Johnson 
IT‘S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
As far as Evetta Whitby is concerned, this is a notable reminder.
A massive one, to put it more precisely.
An esteemed lifelong resident of Forrest City, Arkansas who’s widely regarded for her immeasurable contributions as a resolute community leader, Whitby has emerged as a legitimate candidate to assume the office of St. Francis County Clerk.
Currently serving her fourth term as a member of the Forrest City School Board, Whitby is running as an independent — this after she previously finished third in Forrest City’s mayoral race.
TEAM WHITBY
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 a recent interview.
Early voting is currently taking place and runs through November 2.
Election Day is November 3.
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According to Whitby, 54, she sensed sometime in late 2024 that she would enter the race for St. Francis County Clerk, a seat that currently occupied by Democratic incumbent Brandi H. McCoy.
A campaign that is powered by the compelling slogan, A Fresh Start for Our County, Whitby emphasized her strategic policies are centered largely on the following pledges:
Upgrade The Current Office
“I will work toward a more organized, efficient, and accessible office by evaluating outdated processes and pursuing practical technology improvements,” Whitby told MHN. “Every upgrade will focus on making services easier to use while respecting taxpayer dollars. My pledge is to produce an office equipped to serve you better — not change for the sake of change”
Put Customer Service First
“Whether you visit, call, or write, you deserve courteous assistance, clear information, and timely responses,” Whitby said. “I will prioritize helping residents understand the steps they need to take and following through on their questions. My pledge is to ensure that you will be treated as a person to help, never an inconvenience.”
Earn And Protect Your Trust
“Trust must be earned through honesty, fairness, and consistency. I will communicate clearly, explain office procedures, and make public information accessible while protecting confidential information,” Whitby said. “My pledge is to offer straight answers, fair treatment, and integrity in every interaction.”
Set A Standard of Professionalism
“I will promote a workplace built on respect, accuracy, preparedness, and teamwork,” Whitby said. “Through clear expectations and ongoing training, I will work to ensure residents receive dependable service regardless of whom they speak with. My pledge is to demonstrate professional conduct and respectful service for everyone…without favoritism.”
Be Accountable For Results
“A fresh start requires more than promises,” Whitby said. “I will listen to residents, establish practical improvement goals, and share progress. When mistakes happen, I will take responsibility and work to correct them. My pledge is to implement the kind of leadership that listens, follows through, and takes responsibility.”
For what it’s worth, Whitby admittedly is confident she possesses the essential mechanics needed to assume the St. Francis County Clerk seat in the coming days.
“Integrity in action means doing what is right and following through on what I promise,” Whitby told MHN. “A Fresh Start For Our County means bringing renewed care, accountability, and commitment to the County Clerk’s office. (Citizens of St. Francis County) want to one day be like me and I tell them, ‘I want you to be better than me.’”
When asked how she feels about her chances of emerging as St. Francis County Clerk, Whitby said:
“Whatever God’s will is in my life. I feel confident that if the constitutes of St. Francis County wants change, they will vote for change.”
Of course, if Evetta Whitby wins her forthcoming election…
“She first would like to thank God,” Whitby said. “She would like to thank the citizens of St. Francis County for their many calls, messages, encouragements and most of all their votes. I would like to thank my family for everything. I am truly humbly grateful.”
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 33-plus years. The couple share two sons: TaJuan Whitby, 30, and JaJuan Whitby, 25.
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.
After all, this is notable reminder, mind you.
A massive one, to put it more precisely.
A RELATED STORY
For more information about Evetta Whitby for St. Francis County Clerk, call 870.945.0978 or connect with her via Facebook at:. Send email to: whitbyevetta@gmail.com.
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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.
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