Wooing the voters Mayoral hopefuls seek to garner voter support
Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008
Each of six people aiming to take over the reins for Fayetteville spent some more time Thursday night trying to convince constituents he or she is the best person for the job.
It was the second time all six Fayetteville mayoral candidates debated the issues of the city. The event was attended by a ver y sparse crowd at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale. It was sponsored by the Washington County Republican Women.
Dan Coody, Steve Clark, Adam Fire Cat, Walt Eilers, Lioneld Jordan and Sami Sutton took each question in stride starting with how to protect and encourage development in the city.
Coody said that when the city does get a private developer through the administration process the city needs to do everything it can to see that the development succeeds.
Clark thinks the process itself should be simple, but Fayetteville should keep a sharp eye for economically unhealthy developments.
"If you dot your I's and cross your T's, we hand you your ticket," he said. "Just because someone wants to do something it may not be in the best interest of the city. Some projects are just a little bit ahead of their time. In these troubled times you can't be too careful."
Fire Cat and Sutton took the stance that developers who don't finish their projects should face stricter consequences than the city currently has in place.
Eilers and Clark both agreed that Fayetteville is a frustrating place for those looking to bring in economic development.
"The process gets devolved into politics," Eilers said. "If we are trying to bring in business, it has to have some predictability. It has to have some streamline."
Jordan said Fayetteville has to bring in the economic development welcome wagon and bring more jobs to citizens.
"I think we need to tell businesses that they are welcome here," he said. "I think we need to measure our success by how many jobs we bring in."
Fire Cat and Sutton said the city needs to waive ordinances that make business development difficult, like sidewalk requirements. Sutton added that environmental and green issues should also be considered when developing an economic strategic development plan.
Most candidates had different priority lists in terms of funding emergency services, infrastructure improvements, parks or developing an economic strategic development plan.
Fire Cat said fire trucks before walking trails. Sutton agreed.
"If someone gets in a wreck or gets hurt, what are we going to need the parks for if people can't go to them ? "she said.
Eilers said economic development would create the revenue stream to sustain and grow things like emergency services, city infrastructure and parks.
Jordan said fire and police protection first. He added that proper money management would create economic development, which would fund the rest.
Coody said he wouldn't put parks on the back burner because it would eventually lower the quality of life and that would discourage economic development.
Clark put it simply.
"Essentials over aesthetics," he said. "You have to do fire, and you have to do police first because if you don't do that, you won't have economic development because people don't want to come to a place that's not safe."
As for what qualities the candidates think a mayor should have, Eilers said trust is most important. He said he's a man of his word and deserves trust.
Jordan said experience and responsibility. He touted his experience as an alderman and the fact that he has yet to miss a vote in 214 City Council meetings.
Sutton also said trust. She thinks voters should trust her because she hates liars and she has passion.
Coody said communication and experience. He said he has been mayor for eight years, has kept an open-door policy and no scandals have happened thus far.
Clark said decisiveness combined with action and the ability to earn trust.
"If the candidate can do that, he should be mayor," he said.
Fire Cat simply said humility.
"I am a bus boy, a karaoke jockey and a stripper. That having been said, I'll be happy to show you that I have humility," he said.
Finally, all candidates agreed that good communication with Fayetteville neighboring cities could produce financially and economically beneficial partnerships.
"We have to recognize that a rising tide lifts all boats," Clark said.
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