FAYETTEVILLE MAYORAL RACE : Candidates concentrate on business at Chamber debate
Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008
The atmosphere of Friday's mayoral debate was charged with the business of business. That and attacks on the status quo and the administration of Mayor Dan Coody.
Candidates seemed to be very aware that it was the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce that sponsored the forum.
Economic development "You, as business leaders of Fayetteville, will be the ones that I will particularly be talking with because economic development and promotion for you is the critical thing I see is missing today," candidate Walt Eilers said.
Eilers, who said he had been intensely involved with the Chamber since arriving in Fayetteville in 2000, said he would bring the city's stakeholders together to create an economic plan.
Dan Coody, who is seeking a third term as mayor, spoke about the importance of the business community to Fayetteville.
"One of the things that I think a lot of people don't understand in town is it's the economics, the business of Fayetteville, that helps provide the funding for all the quality of life and all the amenities we have here in town," he said.
Moderator Richard Hudson, vice chancellor for government at community relations at the University of Arkansas asked the candidates what would be the first thing they would do if they were king or queen of the city and had final say.
Candidate Steve Clark's first effort would be about business, he told the Chamber audience.
"If I were king, the first thing I would do as mayor is establish and create funding for an office technology campus … so that we can create the foundation from which we begin to have the economic growth we want and attract the knowledge-based jobs that will be an important part of our economy in the 21 st century," he said. Lioneld Jordan told Chamber members he would call an economic summit of business leaders to seek advice to work on a plan to move the city from Point A to Point B. Sami Sutton said she would broaden her slogan for a greener outlook to focus on a greener city while improving its economics. Green refers to a movement to reduce waste and help clean up the earth.
Status quo All five of the would-be mayors had something negative to say about the current administration. "I clearly think there's no question that we need a change in the direction in this city, and we need different leadership than what we have in the current administration," Clark declared in his opening remarks. Later he said," The current administration's leadership has taken us nowhere "and that the city "feasted on sales tax"instead of creating an environment for jobs.
"We're stuck in a rut here that we should not have been in," Jordan, who is a Ward 4 alderman as well as a mayoral candidate, said.
"It is not about headlines for the mayor … It's about getting the damn job done," Eilers said while answering a question about what the relationship should be between the mayor and the (City ) Council.
Adam Fire Cat said one of the reasons he chose to run for mayor was "I also noticed that we're horribly in debt."
He said it is because of the city's indebtedness that it must go into cash reserves.
"We're majorly financially irresponsible, and I would seek to fix that," Cat said.
"Somebody should have been closely watching money because it's money. We don't want to lose track of that," Sutton said. Coody defended his work as mayor.
He said the city is in much better financial shape than most cities in the United States and has an A + bond rating. He said the city has been building economic development for years, starting with ending the "fire fights"between city departments. With controversies dying down, there is time to focus on the future, he said.
Coody also argued that financial issues are more complex than they were being portrayed by some of the candidates.
$ 5 million The candidates were asked how they would spend a $ 5 million bequest to the city if it was solely their choice. Jordan said his priority would be the safety of the city and that the funds should go for police and fire departments. Sutton would fund programs for youth to help keep them out of trouble. She would also expand the recycling program "because if we don't have a planet to live on, then all of this is really pointless. "Finally, she would try to find a way to keep the city from getting more in debt.
Coody said with $ 5 million he would catch staff up to pay levels, adding that the city provides more services now than when he was first elected and with fewer staff because efficiency has grown.
The remainder, he said, would go for a research and technology park.
Eilers would buy a business park to have a "spade ready"site for businesses that want to come to Fayetteville. He noted that the city had $ 5 million from the sale of Wilson Springs but did not reinvest it.
Clark said the $ 5 million should be seed money for an office technology campus, the library, a regional park and economic development. He would use the rest for a new police headquarters and as seed money for research and development.
Cat would put the money aside in a rainy day fund for police officers and firemen.
Some specifics Candidates also shared what they would like to do for the city if elected mayor in that hypothetical king or queen of the city situation. Cat would immediately make cutbacks to parks and trails. "Luxuries need to be put away for a while," he said. In answer to the king or queen question, Sutton said if she could do anything for the city she would give everyone a motorcycle to save money and energy and because it would be a nice thing to do. She also said she would halt road construction after finishing up that which is already under way. Finding more job opportunities and better communication are also her goals as mayor.
For Coody: "The first thing we need to do is what we're working on right now, is develop a good relationship between the university, the city and the business community."
He said it's important to understand how important they are to each other. Building the Green Valley network will help develop the local economy, he said.
Eilers said he would spend a good deal of time listening and would work to build relationships that last. He does not think the city needs outside consultants.
He does think it needs a line item supporting the Fayetteville Economic Development Corporation, a written economic plan that could be followed on a daily basis and a detailed plan to bring in green business He would ask employees how to reduce the cost of doing business as the city.
Jordan wants the city to partner with the state to create a strategic plan to educate workers so the city can reach out to companies with a trained workforce available.
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