Krystal Cadelli Wins Fort Smith Position 5 Seat

Political newcomer Krystal Cadelli led a four-candidate field in Tuesday's at-large board election, according to unofficial results.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a pale stone civic building facade beneath a tall empty flagpole, evoking local municipal governance. — Political newcomer Krystal Cadelli won Fort Smith's at-large Position 5 board seat Tuesday with 50.95% of the vote, according to unofficial results. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Krystal Cadelli won the Fort Smith Board of Directors Position 5 At-Large seat on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with 9,195 votes, or 50.95%, according to unofficial results. She defeated Lavon Morton, Quinton Cunningham and Molly Radhakrishnan.

Why it matters

The seat gives Fort Smith residents a new city director who is a political newcomer and lifelong local resident. Board members serve four-year terms and are paid $7,800 per year under city ordinance.

Unofficial returns show Cadelli took 50.95% of the vote against three challengers, with Morton at 22.75%, Radhakrishnan at 13.61% and Cunningham at 12.7%. The figures are preliminary, and certified totals were not provided.

The players

Krystal Cadelli

Cadelli is a political newcomer and lifelong Fort Smith resident who won the Position 5 At-Large seat on the city's Board of Directors.

Lavon Morton

Morton was one of three challengers who finished behind Cadelli in the Position 5 At-Large race.

The details

Fort Smith citizens cast ballots on Tuesday to fill the Position 5 At-Large seat on the Board of Directors. Cadelli, a lifelong resident of Fort Smith, won outright without a runoff, and the extraction does not indicate whether any challenge to the results is planned.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Position 5 At-Large election held in Fort Smith.

Big Picture

Board seats in Fort Smith carry a fixed $7,800 annual salary under city ordinance and four-year terms, so Cadelli's win places a newcomer into an established compensation and term structure.

Fort Smith voters now have a new at-large board director serving a four-year term. The seat carries a $7,800 annual salary, which shapes the public role for the next term.

The takeaway

Local board seats often shape city decisions for years, so following the certified results and the new director's early votes helps residents stay informed about Fort Smith governance.