Allen will leave City Council at end of term
Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/66763/
Fayetteville Alderman Nancy Allen said some soul-searching has led her to conclude that she does not want to seek re-election come November.
The Ward 2 Position 2 alderman said in a phone interview with the Northwest Arkansas Times that she has no regrets about her two years of service, but she thinks that sometimes she was “ disillusioned with the practice and priorities of some of the people in local government. ”
“ I bet I’d been thinking about (not seeking re-election ) since January or February, ” Allen said. “ It’s been a very hard decision to figure out if I’d work better in our out of the system. ”
Allen said she will miss donating more than half her annual $ 8, 400 alderman salary to programs such as the Yvonne Richardson Center, Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity, all programs the council cut in the 2008 budget and a few of the reasons for her disillusionment.
“ That was sad to me that those were the first things out (of the budget ), ” she said.
She added that even though she will not be able to donate to the causes she used to, she hopes to physically be involved in all of them.
It is well-documented that Mayor Dan Coody and Allen did not see eye to eye on most issues, but Allen said the mayor had nothing to do with her decision to resign.
“... It is to allow time to do what I really like to do, ” Allen said.
Coody said he thought Allen brought unique ideas to the council.
“ Anyone who is willing to step up into public office and suffer the slings and arrows for the good of the public deserves accolades, ” he said.
Allen became a candidate for the Fayetteville City Council in 2006 to replace Don Marr, who resigned to pursue business interests. She carried all precincts in the election. As recently as April, she had mentioned she was thinking of running for a full term.
Two citizens have already announced they are running for Allen’s spot. Matthew Petty, a self-described social entrepreneur and a sustainability proponent, announced his candidacy in April. Bernard Sulliban, a Fayetteville substitute teacher who ran against Allen in 2006, is also vying for the position.
The filing period for aldermen is Aug. 6-26. Allen’s announcement guarantees that two seats on the council will change in November. Lioneld Jordan, who represents Ward 4, is running for mayor and will vacate his council seat in January.
Former science teacher and Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods Chairman Sarah Lewis is running for Jordan’s seat.