Mayor-elect Lioneld Jordan chairs Tuesday's agenda-setting session preparing for his first meeting as mayor on January 6, 2009

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of Lioneld Jordan chairing meeting of the city council to set agenda for its January 6 meeting. Jordan has served as vice-mayor and chaired many meetings the past few years. Next Tuesday will be his first as mayor. Jordan is to be sworn in Friday morning at the Washington County Courthouse.
Please see Jeff Erf's Web log for the tentative agenda for the Jan. 6 meeting at Tentative agenda for Jan. 6, 2009, city council meeting

For the final agenda, check the same link Friday or Monday or go to Final agenda for Jan. 6, 2009, city council meeting for the agenda and link for live web streaming on Tuesday.
Below the photo, please find final report on campaign spending including the runoff from The Morning News edition for Wednesday, December 31, 2008.



The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


Coody Outspends Jordan In Mayoral Race

By Skip Descant
THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody raised more money for his re-election bid than his opponent Lioneld Jordan. The incumbent mayor raised $87,375 -- and $12,464 was his own money that he lent the campaign.

But it was not enough. Coody lost his bid for a third term to Jordan, a two-term city councilman who raised $49,615. Final campaign finance reports were due Tuesday.

Jordan won the 2008 mayoral race in a runoff, capturing 57 percent of the vote to Coody's 43 percent.

"It's got to make you feel good when you raise $50,000 and your opponent raises nearly $90,000 and you win by about 14 percentage points," Jordan said Tuesday.

All told, the 2008 mayoral race picked up $200,857 in contributions. Steve Clark, a former state attorney general and the new president of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, picked up $46,214 in contributions. More than $11,000 was a loan to his campaign made by Clark and his wife.

In Coody's final report, which spans Nov. 14 to Dec. 6, he accumulated $14,205 in contributions, much of it from developer interests. For example, Ruskin Heights LLC gave $1,200. Nock Investments contributed $1,000.

"The business community was supportive of my campaign. They recognize that I recognize the importance of a strong business base," Coody said Tuesday.

Jordan's final report, which spans Nov. 16 through Dec. 26, shows $8,000 of his final $10,131 in contributions came from union organizations such as the American Federation of State and Municipal Employees or the International Association of Fire Fighters. All told, union organizations contributed $12,099 to Jordan's mayoral campaign. But unions notwithstanding, the bulk of Jordan's contributions came from local residents.

"It was just a huge diverse group and it was an amazing campaign," Jordan said.

And ultimately, the challenger rallies the troops, Coody said.

"Unhappy people always go vote," he said. "And Lioneld had a broad base of support. And my supporters were happy."

With sizable amounts of money being spent in the last leg of the election --$19,169 going toward television, newspaper and radio advertising -- and other expenses, Coody's campaign ended in the red, owing $11,416.

Jordan closed his campaign with $2,951 still in the bank.

Three-hour public-listening session fills Chamber of Commerce meeting room early with small groups toward noon

Transition team committee Dec. 29, 2008, NWAT

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of Linda Ralston (from left), Michelle Halsell and James Phillips facing the camera, with Cindy Cope at right and Julie McQuade facing the table. Not pictured were Jeff Erf and Walt Eilers (chairman of the Jordan mayoral transition teams' communition subcommittee).

Mayoral Transition Task Force communication subcommittee holds final public hearing January 13

Please announce:

The Transition Task Force Communication Subcommittee holds its concluding open public
hearing Tuesday, January 13 from 6:30 to 8 PM.

This 90 minute open hearing will be held in the Council Chamber (City Hall 219). The
hearing will be broadcast live on the Government Channel (Channel 16).

It will feature live public input for those attending and both a call in or an email
option for those viewing from home.

The contact information for the live call-in open hearing is:

Live Call-In 575-8299

Live Email: GOVERNMENTCHANNEL@YAHOO.COM

For more information please contact Transition Team Chair – Don Marr 479-236-1739 or the
Communications Sub-Committee Chair Walt Eilers at 479-582-0784

Jordan mayoral-transition committee sets public-input session for Monday

Northwest Arkansas Times preview of transition team's input session

Unique house on Center Street demolished

Home torn down to become nature area
BY BRETT BENNETT Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/72469/
The steep hillside along Center Street east of Duncan Avenue makes the land challenging to build on for developers.

Now, the one remaining structure that was at the top of the small ravine is no more, and for the upcoming new year, the hillside is undeveloped once again and being restored to a more natural habitat.

Just before the July 4 holiday, a small brown flat-roof apartment building known for featuring a sign with the words "Be Free" on the front door was torn down by the University of Arkansas, the current owner of the property. The demolished building was located near the recently built Duncan Avenue Apartments owned by the university.

"That was one of my renters who put that sign up," former property owner Tom Howard said.

The home might have stood out to drivers going by for two reasons. It was the only building on that north-side stretch of Center Street in recent years, and the flat roof made it difficult to discern if it was a residence or small commercial office building.

"It was unique," Howard said. "I really liked it."

Although it looked short from the road because of the way the building was positioned against the hillside, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Mike Johnson said it had an upstairs and downstairs. The home actually had a driveway that went down into the ravine, but the driveway is also now gone.

"Downstairs there was a garage. If you had anything bigger than a Volkswagen you couldn't fit it in there," Howard said.

It was most recently used by the contractor working on the Duncan Avenue Apartments.

"We used it as a construction office," Johnson said. "It wasn't in very good shape."

The structure was originally built in the late 1940s by Harry Vandergriff, a retired Fayetteville School District superintendent, administrator and high school football coach.

Vandergriff and his wife built two homes on that side of Center Street. One was a white stucco structure that was torn down several years ago, and the next one they built was the recently demolished brown home, he said.

They moved into the brown building and rented rooms in the white stucco house to UA students, he said.

"We built it and we moved into it and had our first child," he said.

They found a builder who helped construct the house but it was built without any formal building plan designed by an architect, Vandergriff said.

They lived in the home for a brief time then sold it and built a new house on Virginia Avenue. Vandergriff said the location of the home on Center Street was convenient to the high school.

"We enjoyed it while we were there," he said.

The university has since built a paved trail path behind the home that goes behind the new apartments.

"It's kind of the beginning of what we're calling the Oak Ridge Trail," Johnson said.

According to Linda Osterich, an employee in the city's permit office, the city has issued 30 demolition permits for 2008, most of which were for commercial structures.

The University of Arkansas does not have to obtain a permit from the city offices to raze or build a structure, she said.

Also, a demolition permit for a single-family house is not always required provided the nature of the demolition meets certain requirements, she said. A single-family home demolition may be permit exempt, for example, if it affects only one structure and not multiple houses within the same area, she said.

Other demolitions in Fayetteville for 2008 include the former Beer Barn building at 646 W. Sycamore within the last month.

It was formerly used as a beer store and the one-time location of Soap & Suds, a laundry where people could reportedly drink while washing their clothes. After Beer Barn, it was the first location for the Church at Arkansas before the church moved to a commercial building on Mission Boulevard.

According to records at the Washington County Assessor's Office, the structure was approximately 5,510 square feet and built in 1984. The records indicated the building was owned by Lenwyn K. and Kathy Edens until Feb. 15, 2006, when it was sold for $500,000 to Blind Squirrel in the Barn, LLC.

After demolishing the building, workers tore up the concrete in the parking lot to be crushed and re-used as rock.

City Planner Jeremy Pate said a request was made and approved early this year to use the property to build additional apartments for the Skate Place Condominiums on Chestnut Street north of the one-time Beer Barn location.

"There are three buildings each with five units, and they will each have 15 units," he said. "It's a small project, but it's extended to the north."

According to the city's permit office, no one has yet applied for the building permit to build the new structure. A demolition permit was granted earlier this month.

The Fayetteville School District also demolished a home, which was technically a portable building, behind Asbell Elementary School this past semester.

The district used the space to house its "resource center," and it moved to the Jefferson Building which houses the district's adult and community education program.

Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

FNHA, city dedicate Mount Sequoyah Woods, new pavilion and perpetual easement

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


Efforts Aim To Preserve Fayetteville’s Urban Forest

By Skip Descant The Morning News
FAYETTEVILLE — The mayor is calling it Fayetteville’s Central Park. It’s 67 acres of trails winding their way along the east side of Mount Sequoyah, eventually bringing hikers to the new Underwood-Lindsey Pavilion.

“This land we’re seeing right now is preserved in perpetuity,” Mayor Dan Coody said to a crowd gathered about two weeks ago under the new pavilion built of Arkansas boulders and enormous white oak timbers.

The land, known as Mount Sequoyah Woods, is owned by Fayetteville, with the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association holding the easement. This preserves the property from development. The natural heritage association raised $479,000 to help purchase the property that until 2006 was owned by the Western Methodist Assembly. The final payment to the city completing the association’s commitment to raise $300,000 was completed about a month ago.

“Our success has been way beyond our wildest dreams,” Bob Caulk, a member of the association, told the Fayetteville City Council recently.

The forest — which some naturalists say supports 15 squirrels per acre, a conservative figure — was in danger of being developed.

“There were at least two developers looking at this property,” Coody said as construction crews could be heard in the distance.

Like many Ozark hillsides, Mount Sequoyah Woods was logged in the early 1900s, and still holds the remnants of a few old homesteads, Caulk said.

“There are several stone walls in the park, suggesting farming,” Caulk explained. “There are many trees scattered throughout the park that are older, perhaps virgin, but most are less than 100 years old.”

But today, the park is a maze of unpaved and loosely defined trails.

“The key to the future is to get kids out in the woods,” Caulk said, at least half-seriously. “We may be the last generation of free-range kids. Everybody seems tied to computers.”

The pavilion, which resembles the naturalistic and sturdily built structures put together on parkland all across the country by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, was designed and lead by Robert Runyan, a carpenter who has spent a lifetime perfecting traditional building techniques.

“We thought long and hard and we knew we wanted a pavilion, but we weren’t sure what kind,” said Pete Heinzelmann, a member of the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association.

The most striking feature of the pavilion is the white oak hand-hewed timbers Runyan found down in Winslow.

“A lot people don’t think you can still build this way anymore,” Runyan said from the pavilion site. The key to sound buildings, Runyan added, is a well-built foundation.

“The foundation of a house is probably the most important thing there is, and it’s what’s often skimped on,” Runyan said.

The pavilion’s foundation is some two feet deep. The secluded location prevented heavy concrete mixing trucks from accessing the site and the concrete was trucked to a site further up the hill, where it flowed through a pipe system, Runyan explained.

“The logistics of getting materials from point A to point B was probably the biggest challenge,” Runyan said.

Web Watch

Fayetteville Natural Heritage Foundation

fayettevillenatural.org

By The Numbers

No Development

Land preserved by the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association

100 acres of urban forest

2 acres of urban wetland

Source: Staff Report

Please click on image to ENLARGE.

Transition team meets with mayor-elect to plan long-term goals

If you want to do the homework along with Lioneld Jordan's mayoral transition team, please see Documents being studied by Lioneld Jordan's mayoral transition team
Please click on images to ENLARGE view of second mayoral transition meeting.



Please click on image to ENLARGE photo of second meeting of Lioneld Jordan's transition team on December 18, 2008.

NWAT report on second transition meeting

Epa newsletter on watershed issues and sources of information

A site to learn about watershed management

Southpass, budget pass, Hoskins freeway subsidy delayed

The Morning News
Local News for Northwest Arkansas

SouthPass, Budget Move Forward
By Skip Descant
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/12/02/news/120308fzcitycouncil.txt
THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody cast the deciding vote Tuesday night to extend a sewer line to the SouthPass regional park. The council tied 4-4, with Nancy Allen, Shirley Lucas, Bobby Ferrell and mayor-elect Lioneld Jordan voting against.
Please click on images to ENLARGE view of Fayetteville, Arkansas, city council on December 2, 2008


Because of many issues, such as cost and concern about developing on Mount Kessler, the SouthPass project has been controversial. The move Tuesday night was just another step in its slow march forward. Should the city kill the project -- a large mixed-use residential and park project in southeast Fayetteville -- it has been suggested by the city attorney that Fayetteville could be sued for not following through on contact obligations.
"I don't have any choice but to vote 'yes,' because I don't want to see the city end up in a lawsuit," Coody said.
The cost-share approved Tuesday night means the city will pay roughly $745,000 as its half of the cost of bringing sewer service to the project. The money will come from water and sewer impact fees.
The council also unanimously approved its $119.5 million 2009 city budget.
Jordan, who will be Fayetteville's next mayor and campaigned for cost-of-living raises, said the city could revisit raises in the first quarter of next year when officials know exactly how much surplus money the city finished 2008 with.
A 2 percent cost-of-living raise would cost roughly $800,000, said Paul Becker, Fayetteville's finance director.
Chickens can now legally cluck, scratch and lay eggs in Fayetteville backyards.
By a vote of 7-1 the council approved an ordinance to allow up to four hens per home. Robert Rhoads voted against, saying the ordinance seemed vague. It allows for both the slaughter of chickens, and prevents cruel treatment or killing of the birds.
"What is our business is passing legislation that may be confusing," Rhoads said.
"When it comes to the issue of slaughter, you know, we really haven't addressed it," said Jill Hatfield, superintendent of Fayetteville Animal Services.
A plan to require the chickens be registered with the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission did not receive support.
"It would become a permitting process," said Brenda Thiel, a council member. "And I don't think we're really going to have enough chickens to justify that."
By a vote of 5-3, the council voted down an appeal by developers for Amberwood Place, a 40-acre development with 177 dwelling units, some of them slated as attainable housing. Lucas, Jordan and Ferrell supported the project, primarily because it provided homes in the $110,000 to $135,000 range, a house type many say Fayetteville is lacking.
"If we want some (affordable) places -- and we've asked our developers to do this -- we've got a situation right here, and I'm all for it," Ferrell said.
"I really think we need some more homes that people can afford," Lucas added.
Other council members agreed with the city's planning staff and Planning Commission, saying Amberwood Place is contrary to Fayetteville's City Plan 2025. And also, some council members were not in favor of grouping affordable housing as a bloc.
"I have a lot of concern about it being bunched together," Allen said. "I have concerns that today's affordable housing may be tomorrow's slums."
And a move to enter into a $2.16 million cost-share with developer Park West LLC to extend Arkansas 112 into an open field to both encourage and access new development was sent back to the Fayetteville Street Committee for further study.

Doug Thompson pinpoints reason that Lioneld Jordan was elected mayor of Fayetteville

Doug Thompson explains Lioneld Jordan

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Vote for Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Please click on image to Enlarge photo of woman with her grandson holding signs at South School and Martin Luther King Boulevard, formerly Sixth Street.
Time is short to vote. Don't miss the chance to help elect an honest, steadfast mayor with a heart big enough to value everyone.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Vote for Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Please click on image to Enlarge photo of woman with her grandson holding signs at South School and Martin Luther King Boulevard, formerly Sixth Street.
Time is short to vote. Don't miss the chance to help elect an honest, steadfast mayor with a heart big enough to value everyone.

Firefighters support Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Firefighters group backs Jordan

In October, the Fayetteville Fire Fighters Association and the Fayetteville Fraternal Order of Police decided to endorse Lioneld Jordan for the mayor of Fayetteville. Both organizations interviewed candidates and made recommendations to their respective memberships on which candidate to support. Lioneld Jordan received our endorsement for mayor because he is accountable, trustworthy and experienced. We believe that as mayor he will continue to be accountable and trustworthy and he will use his experience to move the city of Fayetteville forward. He has never missed a City Council vote in eight years as a Ward 4 alderman. He has conducted more than 100 Ward 4 meetings to make sure that his constituents were able to stay informed and educated with regard to city business. Lioneld Jordan has a 100 percent voting record for Fayetteville’s trails and natural areas. Lioneld Jordan has served as vice mayor since 2004, a position that he was elected to by his colleagues on the council. He has received endorsements from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and the Washington County Green Party. Lioneld has gained the endorsement of the Seirra Club and some of the current and past members of the city council. Lioneld Jordan has gained the respect of former mayoral candidates Steve Clark, Walt Eilers, Sami Sutton and Adam Firecat, which is why they chose to endorse Lioneld Jordan. Wednesday afternoon he also received an endorsement from former attorney general and mayoral candidate Steve Clark, who was once his opponent but now is his respected friend. We believe that Lioneld Jordan will bring accountability, integrity and trustworthiness to the position of the mayor for the city of Fayetteville.

Jeremy Ashley

president
Fayetteville Fire Fighters Association

Louise Mann says support Lioneld Jordan to support our police and firefighters

Please click on images to ENLARGE photos of Louise Mann supporting Lioneld Jordan.



I'm sure we all want to show support for our fire and police, the people who risk their lives for us, daily.

They have now stood up against the current mayor. The Fire and Police have come together and endorsed Lioneld Jordan for mayor.

Why would they do that, if they did not feel very strongly there was a need for change? This is an endorsement that comes from the guys in the trenches. They have worked with both candidates.

Please think about this next question? Would you have the courage to come out and openly endorse against your boss? Have you ever taken such a courageous stand? It's not a small thing to do. Imagine the consequences.

Both Walt Eilers and Steve Clark have endorsed Lioneld. The Green groups have endorsed Lioneld. And the Unions have endorsed Lioneld.
These people/groups did not make their endorsements lightly. People are speaking out because they know, from firsthand experience, what kind of leadership would be good for Fayetteville.

I think most of us would agree that our fire and police have been darn good to us over the years.

Let's support our Fire and Police Depts. and give them the leader they have requested, Lioneld Jordan!

Aubrey Shepherd supports Lioneld Jordan in the Nov. 20, 2008, Fayetteville Free Weekly

Lioneld Jordan offers fair and open government



In the general election, Lioneld Jordan got votes from people from all political parties. Independence of thought and freedom from prejudice are two important qualities people admire about Lioneld Jordan.

Some said they follow city-government meetings on Government Channel and respect Lioneld for his work in eight years of City Council, committee and ward meetings.

Several said his work for neighborhoods made them trust him more than any other official.

Others said they met Lioneld years ago and respected his integrity in private life. Some said they had worked with him and recognized his consistently good judgment and kindness as he rose to a supervisory management position.

Some city workers have said privately that after years of interaction with Lioneld they felt more comfortable working with him than with any other elected official.

People who care about the fertile soil, clean air and water, trees, tall-grass prairie, wildlife, streams and all things living in Fayetteville said they voted for Lionel because of his consistent support of trails and parks and especially his voting to protect Wilson Spring and to create World Peace Wetland Prairie.

Some people said they voted for Jordan because of his support of well-planned developments and because he invites developers to his Ward Four meetings to interact with constituents BEFORE developers commit to projects with flaws easily recognized by people who live near the projects.

Most important is that many long-time Fayetteville residents recognize that Lioneld is dedicated to improving life for everyone in our city, regardless of economic status. He is a working man who reads constantly, listens to everyone and learns every day.

Early voting begins November 18 at the Washington County Courthouse. The county Website lists polling places for runoff election day, November 25.

Please vote to elect Lioneld Jordan mayor of Fayetteville.

Aubrey James Shepherd

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Marsha Melnichak's passing leaves an empty spot in the hearts of Fayetteville residents

Please click on image to ENLARGE photo of Marsha Melnichak (right) and friends visiting the Fayetteville Farmer's Market on October 25, 2008.


Marsha Melnichak died in her sleep Thursday night November 20, 2008, or early this morning, at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas, I was told.
Having visited her Wednesday night at the hospital, I knew her time was short. During the meeting of the Telecommunication Board on Tuesday night, several people spoke off camera of their sadness that she would likely never again attend such meetings and report on them with her clear sense of reality and highly developed ability to sort through the chaff and find the significant points of such city meetings. She earned universal respect from city workers, public officials and area residents who read her news stories.
Few people reach Marsha's high level of competence and integrity in reporting the news.
She covered the beginning of the mayoral campaign well, and it was clear in brief conversations in the weeks since she found herself unable to work that one of her concerns was not being able to continue her work and be on hand next Tuesday to report on the final chapter.
Maybe she realized that she would not be with us by this time. Most of us did not.
Her absence should be a reminder that, whatever goals we set, pursuing them with honesty, good humor and grace is as important as the result.

Steve Clark's endorsement of Lioneld Jordan on Google video

Please click the "play" arrow to view video of Steve Clark endorsing Lioneld Jordan.

Steve Clark endorses Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Please click image to enlarge view of Steve Clark as he announces his support for Lioneld Jordan and Alderman Jordan applauding.
Former Arkansas Attorney General Clark finished third in the race for mayor in a six-person field of candidates during the general election. Jordan is in a runoff with the incumbent mayor for the highest office in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Early voting has begun at the Washington County Courthouse and is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Monday will be the final day to vote early at the courthouse and runoff election day is Tuesday, November 25 at regular polling places in Fayetteville.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette endorses Lioneld Jordan in the runoff for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

 
EDITORIALS : Still for Lioneld Jordan
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Edition
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/244000

LIONELD JORDAN, the
conscientious alderman, is in a run-off for
mayor of Fayetteville. He’s trying to unseat Dan Coody, the two-term incumbent who’s seeking a third term. Mr. Jordan was our choice in the general election earlier this month. He remains our choice in Tuesday’s run-off.
Lioneld Jordan has much to recommend him. In his eight years as alderman, he’s never missed a city council meeting. He’s held monthly meetings in his ward to stay in touch with those who elected him to the city council. Known for his open approach, he listens to all. Even when he disagrees, he’s straightforward enough to explain why. He takes the time to master the difficult issues that come before a city council, and he’s been willing to admit he was wrong when he’s decided to change his mind.
He’s in a tough runoff. His opponent, Mayor Coody, has been a fixture in Fayetteville politics for many years, long predating his first election as mayor in 2000. And the mayor has got lots of supporters to show for it. But his opponent in this runoff has put together a notable coalition in his campaign to become Fayetteville’s next mayor. Mr. Jordan has won the endorsements of Fayetteville’s police officers and firefighters, as well as that of the Sierra Club and the local Green Party. In addition, three other candidates for mayor in the general election have now offered their support to him.
Mayor Coody has had his share of difficulties over the years. He bears ultimate responsibility for the $ 60-million-plus cost overrun for the expansion of the city’s wastewater system. The project came in three years late and had to be rescued with an increase in the city sales tax. He pushed hard for putting up a big hotelplus-condo at the site of the old Mountain Inn. But it has yet to materialize. Instead, the city has gotten a parking lot on the site.
The mayor has also disappointed with his heavy-handed take-over of the city’s Government Channel, which resulted in the cancellation of its public opinion forums. Those forums had been a popular way to provide non-partisan information about issues of interest to anyone who lives in Fayetteville.
Nobody expects Lioneld Jordan to do everything right if he’s elected mayor. But the city can be confident he’ll approach city government with a willingness to hear all sides and take all opinions into account before making the decision he believes is best for Fayetteville. He’s shown commendable openness in his years as an alderman. Based on his record, voters can expect the same from him as mayor. Which is why we’re endorsing him—again.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Six fire departments put out fire started by neighbor's brush burning

Assistant fire marshal says fire legal because it was set to burn only brush. Was it still legal when it crossed a property line and started destroying vehicles and buildings?
Our state, county and local governments need to set some stronger rules on open burning and educate the public about the danger. Obviously, the wind was blowing or the fire would not have spread.
If a neighbor started firing a gun toward your property the danger might be less. Or least you could shoot back. This kind of carelessness happens far too often.

Brush fire rages out of control, burns buildings
BY KATE WARD Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/71260

Firefighters from six area agencies battled a brush fire that consumed multiple buildings in Fayetteville on Tuesday evening.
The blaze was reported at 14088 Highland Church Road, located off Goose Creek Road in western Fayetteville, at about 5: 30 p. m.
“ An older gentleman was burning brush and the fire got out of control, ” said Laurie Roy, assistant fire marshal for the Washington County Fire Marshal’s Office. “ He tried to put it out with a shovel, but the fire spread right up the hill and right into the neighbor’s yard. ”
Roy said the blaze spread uphill and affected two outbuildings. One of the structures was a total loss, she said, while the other sustained radiant heat damage. Also damaged during the fire were two vehicles — a pickup truck and a motor home. Both sustained heat damage. No injuries were reported during the fire.
Roy said the person who started the fire, Frankie Andrews, wasn’t cited.
“ It wasn’t illegal because he was just burning brush, ” she said. “ As far as restitution, I’m not sure what he’ll be responsible for. I know the property owner had insurance. ”
The owner of the damaged property was listed as Donnie Morgan.
Firefighters reportedly had the blaze under control at about 6: 30 p. m. and cleared the scene by about 7: 30 p. m.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

November 17, 2008, mayoral debate in The Morning News

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of laptop view of video being recorded during the November 17, 2008, debate between Dan Coody and Lioneld Jordan sponsored by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce at the UA Continuing Education Center.ñ

The Morning News
Local News for Northwest Arkansas

Mayoral Candidates Trade Quips
By Skip Descant
THE MORNING NEWS
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/11/17/news/111808fzmayoral.txt
FAYETTEVILLE -- If elected, Lioneld Jordan aims to have an economic development plan within 90 days of taking office as Fayetteville's next mayor.
"After eight years we still do not have an economic development plan for this city. And that needs to change," Jordan told a nearly packed auditorium Monday night during a mayoral debate between Jordan -- a council member -- and incumbent Mayor Dan Coody. The debate was sponsored by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.
The discussion followed eight topics as diverse as growing collegiality on the council to how to mange building impact fees to how to "Keep Fayetteville Funky."
Coody, in his own calm style, spent much of his time explaining various aspects of the last eight years and the vision he holds for the future.
"We've worked to rebuild infrastructure. We're rebuilding the very basics on what you can build economic development," Coody said.
Jordan, who at times sliced the air with his hand to get his point across, reiterated many past segments of his stump speech, such as growing job training and being a better manager of the public's money.
"I don't plan on bringing a millage increase in 2009," Jordan said. "If I'm elected mayor of this city, we will have a balanced budget."
Coody also did not propose a millage increase, but his proposed budget dips into the city's reserve funds.
But when the evening's final question came up -- how to fund cost of living raises for city staff -- Jordan, a union member, reiterated that he does not plan to unionize the city work force.
"If I wanted to unionize this city, I've had eight years, and I never did it," he told the room flatly.
The issue was raised at the last debate and Coody stoked that fire a little further when he recalled a prior conversation he says he'd had with Jordan.
"He (Jordan) did say that if he had the chance, that he would unionize this city so fast it would make my head spin," Coody said.
Jordan denied the accusation, adding that if he did say something to that effect, it was an off-the-cuff joke.
"Let me tell you, I didn't come to unionize this city," Jordan said, and added, any such move would require City Council approval.
But the two men also quipped back and forth around economic development, even though both want to grow green-tech jobs. But Jordan wants to see less dragging of feet and fewer "outside consultants" brought in.
"I'm ready to hear from the business community of this city," Jordan said, subtly hinting at one the main themes of his campaign -- communication.
"And set down and hammer out an economic plan that will protect the businesses that we have and move this city forward," he added. Though Jordan did not offer any specifics to what that plan might include.
"This city needs to move forward economically, and we have not had a plan in eight years," Jordan continued.
"Sounds easy doesn't it?" said Coody, who then went on to call this approach "unrealistic."
"It is not 'unrealistic,'" Jordan said. "It takes attitude."
Coody then embarked on a his own dossier of his work with the Fayetteville Economic Development Council and the recent economic development strategy planning session the city held jointly with the university by bringing in Eve Klein and Associates, an economic development consulting firm.
And it would be almost impossible in this election to not touch on the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant, which upon completion, was three years behind schedule and ended up costing some $60 million more than planned. Coody has half-heartedly taken the blame for the debacle, but adds that part of the problem was his office not having all the information regarding how wrongly the project was heading.
"If there's going to be a project going out of whack, I'm going to know about it and the people will know about it," Jordan said. "The buck always stops at the mayor's office, and when I'm mayor, the buck will stop with me."
"The reason the buck stops with me, is because everybody gets to pass it," Coody said.

Mayoral debate today

Please click on image to ENLARGE to read details.

Letters supporting Lioneld Jordan for mayor on November 16, 2008

Letters to the editor
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/71174
Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2008

Jordan can be trusted

Early voting for the mayoral runoff election begins on Nov. 18, and Election Day is Nov. 25. I urge you to get out and vote and, when you do, to vote for Lioneld Jordan. Here are three of the many reasons why I will be voting for Lioneld: 1. We need a mayor who believes in balancing the city budget and living within our city income. Last year, it fell to Vice Mayor Jordan to lead the City Council through this difficult task while the mayor was off in Europe doing other things. This year, Jordan joined the Council in passing a resolution directing the mayor to submit a balanced budget, which the mayor refused to do. Lioneld will not need that kind of direction. 2. We need a mayor who believes in closely monitoring large multi-million dollar city projects right from the beginning, not after they have fallen years behind schedule and are running millions of dollars over budget. Contrast the initial mismanagement of the sewer and trails projects by the Streets Committee under Lioneld Jordan’s chairmanship. 3. We need a mayor who not only believes in regular two-way communication with the people, but actually practices it. Contrast Lioneld’s 110 face-to-face Ward 4 and other meetings with the number of such appearances by our mayor over the past eight years. Again, please get out and vote during this runoff, and when you do please remember: Lioneld Jordan — Experience You Can Trust !
William A. Moeller
Fayetteville


Incumbent’s campaign disappoints

The Sunday, Nov. 9, Northwest Arkansas Times illustrates strongly why Lioneld Jordan should be Fayetteville’s next mayor. In the article about the runoff race, incumbent Mayor Coody disappoints, but hardly surprises me, by resorting to the politics of fear to down Mr. Jordan. Coody uses the buzzwords “ union, ” the Wal-Mart bogeyman, and “ radical, ” which actually translates as from the roots, to frighten people worried about the city budget. Check the record. Mr. Jordan has certainly had a grassroots campaign, but he has never proposed unionizing city employees. It is Coody who defied the elected city council’s directive to present a balanced budget. Dr. Nick Brown, in a letter the same day, eloquently defines “ sustainability, ” one of Coody’s favorite terms, as including social justice. I believe that if the mayor treats city employees well, they will not need to unionize; the fact that two of the largest, most visible and most depended-upon groups of city employees, namely our firefighters and police, support Lioneld Jordan speaks volumes. As mayor, Lioneld will not throw away money on fancy consultants, when we have plenty of expertise here in town. How difficult can it be for the mayor to put the UAF chancellor on speed-dial ? Lioneld will not direct the city attorney to fight a private howeowner over a sewage mishap, when simply fixing the problem would cost less than 10 percent of the eventual legal bills and settlement. Lioneld has learned that illconceived real estate dealing, such as the Mountain Inn / TIF fiasco, the Wilson Springs purchase, and the Tyson Building saga, are budget drains and not economic salvations. Join with me to return our city to the citizens. Vote for Lioneld Jordan Nov. 25.
Rick Belt
Fayetteville

Regarding the runoff

Although two of Lioneld Jordan’s former mayoral opponents (Eilers, Fire Cat ) have now endorsed Jordan, his runoff opponent informs us that the “ dynamic of the campaign will change as mayoral forums allow more time for two candidates to answer questions than was possible with six. ” (Northwest Arkansas Times, Nov. 6 ) Jordan’s opponent asserts that the more “ in-depth ” answers provided in debates will allow voters to “ delve more deeply into issues and public records and history of leadership ” However, those of us who’ve long appreciated Lioneld Jordan’s leadership in Ward 4 and as vice mayor are sure that Lioneld has already outlined the best long-term approaches for Fayetteville’s future development. His mayoral platform and track record build on proven experience, hard work and accountability, rather than rhetoric. And his strong backing and endorsements by Fayetteville’s police and firemen and the Sierra Club, clearly affirm his competence and leadership skill, as well as his working knowledge of how the city operates. Thus we can agree that debates between the two candidates will allow Fayetteville voters to delve into the deeper needs of our community and to judge the two candidates’ respective track records over the past eight years. And we’re certain that voters will agree with us — and his former opponents — that Lioneld Jordan is our best “ in-depth ” candidate to lead the city staff and City Council toward a sustainable, economically-sound future for all of Fayetteville. His honesty and hard work have earned our trust and yours. Please join us in voting for Lioneld Jordan on Nov. 25 — or better yet, vote early, beginning Nov. 18.
Jim Bemis
Fayetteville

Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Lioneld jordan means green business

Please click on image to ENLARGE for reading.

Melissa Terry explains why she supports Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Why I support Lioneld Jordan

In the 10 years I've know him, Lioneld Jordan has consistently been the kind of leader who lets the facts speak for themselves. When we organized the first Scull Creek Clean Up, Lioneld came and worked with us all day pulling tons of trash out of that creek, whereas others showed up only in time for press opportunities. Additionally, when the question came to the city council about ways we can improve our city's recycling program, Lioneld Jordan is the only elected person who ever came out and did a day's work with our awesome recycling crew to see what really needs to be done to improve our current waste reduction program. Lioneld's the kind of guy whose principles are his politics, rather than the other way around. He can bring diverse points of view to tough issues and not burn bridges along the way, as evidenced by the fact that he enjoys the same supporters today as when he ran for office eight years ago. This consistent support base is because Lioneld Jordan understands how to treat people with the respect of an individual and the professionalism of a leader.

Most importantly, Lioneld's a dad. In few other forums are your powers of diplomacy more tested or more tried. He's brought up four children on a state employee's salary for 26 years, so we know he understands about managing a budget.

As an example of making the most of a limited budget, Lioneld had a third the amount of his primary opposition's campaign budget, yet he still managed to wage a successful campaign. Additionally, he garnered the support of both the Fayetteville Police Department and the Fayetteville Fire Department. These are people we trust with making lifechanging decisions and their endorsements are a decisive call for new leadership. The Sierra Club's endorsement also shows that Lioneld can work with our vibrant conservation community to ensure that Fayetteville's local economy and ecology thrive together.

Lioneld can help lead Fayetteville toward being a training hub for the emerging green collar economy by working with technologies incubating at the Genesis Center and by forming a working partnership with John Brown University's Renewable Energy degree program. Building a bridge between these partnerships and service programs like CityYear, AmeriCorps and VISTA can help our community grow more sustainable - without draining our coffers.

And, most importantly, I support Lioneld Jordan because I like him. What he says to your face is what he says behind your back. When he tells you that he supports your program, cause or concern, he actually does. When he doesn't like your position, he tells you. As a downtown property owner, a transparent city government that stands on principles rather than politics sounds pretty good to me. I encourage you to support Lioneld Jordan.
Melissa Terry / Fayetteville

Fund-raiser for 22-month-old Eleanor Rose Suttle tonight at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas

SUGGESTION: TONIGHT BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, HOW ABOUT DROPPING IN AT ST. PAUL'S AND HELPING LITTLE ELEANOR???? TKS, FRAN

http://www.lifepluskids.com/eleanors-eyes-silent-auction.htm

Eleanor’s Eyes Silent Auction

As many of you know, 22 month old Eleanor Rose Suttle, daughter of the owners of the Greenhouse Grille in Fayetteville (Clayton & Meredith Suttle), was diagnosed with cancer in both eyes in June of 2007. She has been in treatment as St. Jude’s Research Center in Memphis since that time and has undergone chemo and laser therapy.
Her cancer has returned and her doctors have recommended Proton Radiation. Eleanor has been referred to MPRI in Bloomingon, Indiana. The family has relocated to Bloomington for the next month while Eleanor undergoes treament.
Friends of the Suttles are hosting a silent auction to benefit Eleanor on her journey for treatment and recovery. Join them in celebration of this beautiful child and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun.
If you would like to donate to Eleanor’s recovery fund, please visit www.eleanorseyes.com.
What: Silent Auction, Culinary Delights, Drinks, and Live Music
When: Saturday, November 8, 6-9pm
Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Cost: $10 at the door (kids free!)

Walt Eilers endorses Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of Walt Eilers and Lioneld Jordan after Eilers threw his support to Lioneld Jordan in the runoff for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


Mayoral Candidate Gets Backing of Former Opponents

By Charles Huggins
The Morning News
FAYETTEVILLE -- Hoping for a last-minute push in the final leg of the mayor’s race, current Alderman Lioneld Jordan announced Saturday morning he has cultivated the support of two former candidates.
Supporters gathered at the Washington Square to hear Walt Eilers throw his weight and 2,189 votes to Jordan before the Nov. 25 run-off election.
“Lioneld has the set of skills to help the city move forward,” Eilers told the crowd. “I encourage you to help him out.”
That set of skills includes having good communication skills, knowing how city government works without micromanaging, and having a good working relationship with the City Council, Eilers said.
Former candidate Adam Fire Cat, donned in a half-black, half-white tuxedo, brought his off-beat but straightforward perspective with his endorsement of Jordan.
Fire Cat agrees with Jordan’s philosophy of fiscal responsibility and operating a balanced city budget, he said.
“To me, numbers are black and white,” Fire Cat said, drawing a chuckle from the crowd.
Jordan stumped on having a better relationship with the City Council than Coody, and said as mayor he would hold townhall meetings for each ward to give residents more participation in their government.
“This whole campaign has been about two words: The people,” Jordan said following the announcement.
Having the support of Eilers and Fire Cat could be what Jordan needs to put him over the top, Jordan said. Coody received 9,806 votes, or 37 percent, in the Nov. 4 general election, and Jordan received 7,380 votes, or 28 percent.
Coody agreed the race is about the citizens, but said, “It’s also about how to best bring about change based on the public input. There’s a long track record with me to prove that.”
Coody contested the claim that Jordan has a better relationship with aldermen than he does.
“We got 99 percent of everything passed,” Coody said. “We get along fine.”
Early voting begins on Nov. 18 through Nov. 24, with the run-off election on Nov. 25.

Walt Eilers to endorse Lioneld Jordan for mayor at 10 a.m.

Breaking news.....

Former mayoral candidate Walt Eilers will be publicly endorsing Lioneld Jordan at a press conference Saturday morning @ 10:00am at the Urban Table steps (Old Post Office). All are welcome to attend.

Marilyn Edwards elected Washington County judge

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of County Judge-elect Marilyn Edwards (right) and her most persistent supporter on the streets of Fayetteville in recent weeks.



Coody, Jordan in runoff for Fayetteville mayor; Edwards wins county judge race
Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Fayetteville's hotly contested mayoral race will go on for another three weeks as incumbent Dan Coody faces off against Alderman Lioneld Jordan for the next four-year term starting in January.

State Rep. Marilyn Edwards, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Earvel Fraley to become the next Washington County judge.

Coody, with 9,806 votes, earned the most of any single candidate, but not the 50 percent plus one required to avoid a runoff. Coody's votes totaled 37.5 percent while Jordan gained 7,380 votes, or 28 percent of those cast.

Former Arkansas attorney general Steve Clark came in third with 21 percent of the vote, or 5,528 ballots cast.

Below are the unofficial results for all races released by the Washington County Election Commission about 11:15 p.m. National, statewide and congressional races reflect only the votes cast in Washington County.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Gloria La Riva (SAL). . . . . . . 35 — .05%
Barack Obama (DEM) . . . . . . . 28,965 — 42.42%
John McCain (REP). . . . . . . . 37,915 — 55.53%
Chuck Baldwin (CON) . . . . . . . 244 — .36%
Ralph Nader (IND). . . . . . . . 627 — .92%
Bob Barr (LIB). . . . . . . . . 317 — .46%
Cynthia McKinney (GRN) . . . . . . 172 — .25%

U.S. SENATE

U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (DEM). . . . 50,343 — 78.70%
Rebekah Kennedy (GRN) . . . . . . 13,623 — 21.30%

U.S. CONGRESS

Abel Noah Tomlinson (GRN) . . . . . 19,57 — 30.18%
Congressman John Boozman (REP) . . . 45,288 — 69.82%

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 87

Earl J. Hunton (DEM). . . . . . . 3,616 — 44.07%
Representative Mark Martin (REP). . . 4,589 — 55.93%

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 89

Gene Long (REP) . . . . . . . . 6,911 — 45.63%
State Representative Jim House (DEM) . 8,236 — 54.37%

COUNTY JUDGE

Representative Marilyn Edwards (DEM) . 37,750 — 57.73%
Earvel E. Fraley (REP) . . . . . . 27,640 — 42.27%

CIRCUIT CLERK

Bette Stamps (DEM) . . . . . . . 52,193 — 100.00%

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DISTRICT 1

Thomas D. Lundstrum (REP) . . . . . 4,108 — 61.20%
Sharon Green (DEM) . . . . . . . 2,604 — 38.80%

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DISTRICT 5

Candy Clark (DEM). . . . . . . . 3,310 — 61.33%
James Reavis (REP) . . . . . . . 2,087 — 38.67%

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DISTRICT 12

Robert Kenyon (REP) . . . . . . . 2,528 — 47.95%
Ann Harbison (DEM) . . . . . . . 2,744 — 52.05%

MAYOR FAYETTEVILLE

Steve Clark. . . . . . . . . . 5,528 — 21.13%
Lioneld Jordan. . . . . . . . . 7,380 — 28.21%
Sami Sutton. . . . . . . . . . 338 — 1.29%
Walt Eilers. . . . . . . . . . 2,189 — 8.37%
Mayor Dan Coody . . . . . . . . 9,806 — 37.48%
Adam Fire Cat . . . . . . . . . 919 — 3.51%

MAYOR SPRINGDALE

Jim L. Reed. . . . . . . . . . 578 — 4.08%
Nancy Deason Jenkins. . . . . . . 2,645 — 18.68%
Doug Sprouse . . . . . . . . . 4,979 — 35.16%
Ray Dotson . . . . . . . . . . 1,368 — 9.66%
Ken Watson . . . . . . . . . . 1,226 — 8.66%
Mike Overton . . . . . . . . . 3,366 — 23.77%

CITY CLERK WEST FORK

Susan Cooney . . . . . . . . . 421 — 51.40%
Brandy Rollins. . . . . . . . . 398 — 48.60%

RECORDER / TREASURER ELKINS

Constance E. Tober . . . . . . . 383 — 46.94%
Sunny Ledford . . . . . . . . . 433 — 53.06%

RECORDER / TREASURER TONTITOWN

Amy B. Pianalto . . . . . . . . 530 — 53.48%
Becky Alston . . . . . . . . . 461 — 46.52%

ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 1 ELKINS

Jeremy Stevens. . . . . . . . . 460 — 56.51%
John Snell . . . . . . . . . . 354 — 43.49%

ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 1 TONTITOWN

David Bolinger. . . . . . . . . 504 — 50.55%
Sunny Hinshaw . . . . . . . . . 493 — 49.45%

ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 1 WEST FORK

Rodney Drymon . . . . . . . . . 459 — 54.77%
Frances Hime . . . . . . . . . 379 — 45.23%

ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 2 ELKINS

Phillip Southan . . . . . . . . 332 — 41.40%
Bonnie Wilcox . . . . . . . . . 470 — 58.60%

ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 2 SPRINGDALE

Kathy Jaycox . . . . . . . . . 6,268 — 50.98%
A. L. Hollingsworth . . . . . . . 3,204 — 26.06%
Craig Graves . . . . . . . . . 2,195 — 17.85%
Eddie Free . . . . . . . . . . 628 — 5.11%

ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 2 TONTITOWN

James E. Main . . . . . . . . . 312 — 32.33%
Henry C. Piazza . . . . . . . . 653 — 67.67%

ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 2 WEST FORK

John Robert Richard . . . . . . . 507 — 64.10%
Bryan F. "Moe" Greenoe . . . . . . 284 — 35.90%

ALDERMAN WARD 2 POSITION 1 ELKINS

Bobby McGarrah. . . . . . . . . 378 — 43.90%
Terri L. Miller . . . . . . . . 483 — 56.10%

ALDERMAN WARD 2 POSITION 1 GREENLAND

Ray Hathaway . . . . . . . . . 150 — 38.66%
Danny Dutton . . . . . . . . . 238 — 61.34%

ALDERMAN WARD 2 POSITION 1 TONTITOWN

Arthur Penzo . . . . . . . . . 665 — 68.35%
Larry Bain . . . . . . . . . . 308 — 31.65%

ALDERMAN WARD 2 POSITION 2 ELKINS

Henry L. Hickman . . . . . . . . 345 — 41.82%
Bruce Ledford . . . . . . . . . 480 — 58.18%

ALDERMAN WARD 2 POSITION 2 SPRINGDALE

Randy Pounders. . . . . . . . . 2,617 — 22.64%
Danny Farrar . . . . . . . . . 2,353 — 20.35%
Ed Gillean . . . . . . . . . . 1,301 — 11.25%
Rick Evans . . . . . . . . . . 5,290 — 45.76%

ALDERMAN WARD 3 POSITION 1 ELKINS

Duane Foster . . . . . . . . . 500 — 61.80%
Chris Dunivan . . . . . . . . . 309 — 38.20%

ALDERMAN WARD 3 POSITION 1 GREENLAND

Stephanie G. Sawyer . . . . . . . 112 — 28.35%
Carroll E. Hancock . . . . . . . 143 — 36.20%
Lonnie Meadows. . . . . . . . . 140 — 35.44%

ALDERMAN WARD 3 POSITION 1 TONTITOWN

Gary Mussino . . . . . . . . . 345 — 36.39%
Julienne Zulpo Bowling . . . . . . 603 — 63.61%

ALDERMAN WARD 3 POSITION 2 ELKINS

Lloyd Stith. . . . . . . . . . 453 — 56.91%
Bob Cox . . . . . . . . . . . 343 — 43.09%

ALDERMAN WARD 3 POSITION 2 SPRINGDALE

Jeff Watson. . . . . . . . . . 5,448 — 45.04%
Teresa J. Powers . . . . . . . . 3,010 — 24.88%
Josh Jenkins . . . . . . . . . 3,639 — 30.08%

ALDERMAN WARD 4 POSITION 2 SPRINGDALE

Ruth Strebe Motes. . . . . . . . 5,051 — 44.42%
Eric Ford . . . . . . . . . . 6,320 — 55.58%

FAY. ALDERMAN WARD 1 POSITION 2

Don Conner . . . . . . . . . . 2,366 — 41.51%
Alderman Brenda Thiel . . . . . . 3,334 — 58.49%

FAY. ALDERMAN WARD 2 POSITION 2

Matthew Petty . . . . . . . . . 2,452 — 51.60%
Mark Kinion. . . . . . . . . . 2,300 — 48.40%

FAY. ALDERMAN WARD 4 POSITION 2

Craig M. Honchell. . . . . . . . 1,585 — 26.98%
Sarah Lewis. . . . . . . . . . 3,818 — 65.00%
Bernard Sulliban . . . . . . . . 471 — 8.02%

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 1

FOR Proposed Referred Amendment No . . 44,174 — 71.69%
AGAINST Proposed Referred Amendme . . 17,445 — 28.31%

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 2

FOR Proposed Referred Amendment N . . 43,463 — 72.61%
AGAINST Proposed Referred Amendme . . 16,399 — 27.39%

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 3

FOR Proposed Initiative Amendment . . 42,414 — 64.56%
AGAINST Proposed Initiative Amendm . . 23,282 — 35.44%

PROPOSED INITIATIVE ACT NO.1

FOR Proposed Initiative Act No. 1 . . 31,510 — 48.22%
AGAINST Proposed Initiative Act No . . 33,839 — 51.78%

REFERRED QUESTION NO.1

FOR Issuance . . . . . . . . . 39,991 — 67.29%
AGAINST Issuance . . . . . . . . 19,443 — 32.71%

LOWEST LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY POLICY FAYETTEVILLE

FOR Code Section No. 130.02 . . . . 16,951 — 65.87%
AGAINST Code Section No. 130.02 . . . 8,782 — 34.13%

ALL UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES

FOR . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,554 — 100.00%

For statewide results, go the Arkansas Secretary of State Web site at www.arelections.org.

Coody talks Channel 5 videographer and reporter into a second shot

Please click on images to ENLARGE.
Channel Five television team interviews Mayor Dan Coody inside the No-Campaign line set by the election board to prevent people from being harassed near the door to the polling place.

The TV 5 crew invites Alderman Lioneld Jordan to come over for an interview, but he points out that candidates cannot come across the line while campaigning. The crew moves east about 60 feet along the line and sets up and interviews Jordan.

Coody talks to the videographer for several minutes, part of the time with at least one foot over the line, and apparently convinces the team to shoot a second interview with him at the legal spot where they had interviewed Jordan.

The Channel Five workers finally agree to Coody's request and interview him again farther from the door.

Which Coody interview will Channel Five show tonight?

Sonya Zimmer says make Lioneld Jordan mayor because he is dependable, capable and intelligent

All those Jordan signs tell a story

On a recent drive to the Fayetteville library, I was delighted to see many Lioneld Jordan signs prominently displayed in front of homes and businesses. From the beginning of Lioneld's candidacy, I've been drawn to his message of local government for the people. Lioneld has a record of leadership in our community as vice mayor and alderman. Lioneld has served on multiple committees and received a range of awards for his service over the years. Most important, I have been impressed by Lioneld's vision of growing Fayetteville by cultivating its unique strengths. With all these qualities, it seems like a sure thing that Lioneld would be a clear leader in the pack of mayoral candidates; however, Lioneld is not one to be flashy. He represents the people, and Lioneld Jordan - solid, dependable, capable, intelligent - is what we need in Fayetteville now. After seeing so many signs, I realized many others have recognized that too. My friends and I are excited to vote for Lioneld Jordan for mayor and urge you to do the same.
Sonya Zimmer
Fayetteville

Please vote for Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Please vote for Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Lioneld Jordan has been my choice for mayor of Fayetteville since the beginning of discussion of the upcoming election more than a year ago.
There is no one in the race who can be expected to do more to protect the environment of our city, the people of our city or make better decisions for the future of our city.
Lioneld was born in Fayetteville. I wasn't. I have never been able to call any other place home even when I worked in Little Rock for a few years. But, if anyone loves Fayetteville more than I do, it is Lioneld.
And no one in public life since I first attended graduate school at the University of Arkansas in 1966 has more consistently earned my respect.
I have found him always willing to listen to the concerns of everyone. The fact that he understands and relates to working people in my Town Branch neighborhood in south Fayetteville has been very important to us in recent years.
He supported our effort to save a parcel of wetland prairie from an intense development as we raised money to make the land a city nature park. The project would have wedged 48 apartments into a beautiful and old single-family neighborhood with no concern for the sensitive environment.
He voted to protect the Wilson Spring property, a much bigger and more unusually delicate ecosystem than almost any place this side of the Buffalo River,
He earned the endorsement of the Sierra Club in part for those votes and for his support of parks and trails and the steep, timbered hillsides of our city.
He has earned the endorsement of the firefighters and police officers of our city. He has earned the endorsement of the union of members of the staff and faculty of the University of Arkansas, where he has worked for decades.
He has earned the respect and endorsement of the local Green Party.
Among people I know, he has strong support among those whose statewide and national votes will be for candidates of both Democratic and Republican parties. His record stands on its own. He is the kind of person that most members of both major parties want to see on their ticket.
And he has been endorsed by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
As a member of the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology, I am only one of many who have voted for Lioneld, because he is strong in all the areas of OMNI's concern.
I am among the members of the Carbon Caps Task Force who support Lioneld.
I have friends who support the Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, the Arkansas Wildlife Federation, Audubon Arkansas, the National Audubon Society, Quail Unlimited and many unaffiliated hunters and fishermen and bird-watchers and nature lovers who have expressed support for Lioneld.
Most important, however, are the working people of Fayetteville who know and respect Lioneld and believe that he will continue to give them a voice in city government, even as he works to create new jobs in the city and housing for low-income residents and to protect the environment while negotiating the best possible development plans as our city continues to grow.
Lioneld respects everyone and shows no prejudice toward anyone. He listens to all and learns and strives to make decisions fair to all. He is indeed the real deal.
Aubrey James Shepherd
1101 South Duncan Avenue
Fayetteville, 72701
444-6072

Mark Kinion the clear choice for Ward 2 seat on City Council. He has built a resume of actual service to this community.

Mark Kinion is the choice for Ward 2 alderman.
Nancy Allen, the current alderman for Ward 2, and Don Marr, the previous alderman for Ward 2, both have endorsed Kinion because of his integrity, experience on many committees of Fayetteville government and his broad experience in business and environmental protection.
Kinion is part of the housing board and the Council of Neighborhoods and has been an important contributor to many significant Fayetteville initiatives. He knows and cares about the people of the city. He understands peace, justice and ecology!
No one in the race for Ward 2 alderman has anything close to Kinions' credentials.
The best thing is that Kinion is honest. He learns and makes good decisions. Ward 2 residents can depend on Mark Kinion to do the right thing and vote to protect the current residents of Fayetteville and the natural heritage of Fayetteville.
He was born and reared in Northwest Arkansas and earned a degree from the University of Arkansas. He has the knowledge, experience and good intentions that have been epitomized in the work of the most recent Ward 2 aldermen holding the seat he is seeking.

Lioneld Jordan TV spot

Lioneld Jordan visits with supporters on East Dickson Street

Please click on images to ENLARGE.

Aubrey James Shepherd's third video supporting Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Northwest Arkansas Times endorses Candy Clark for Quorum Court

For Candy Clark

Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008

URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/70538

In the race for Washington County’s District 5 seat — which mostly covers the southern portion of Fayetteville — voters are being asked to choose between a pair of intelligent and sincere candidates who clearly have the area’s best interests at heart. Having said that, we believe Candy Clark, the Democratic candidate in this race, will serve District 5 the best.

Her opponent, Jim Reavis, told us he believes the election will come down to a contest of personalities — and if so, we believe that bodes well for Clark, who holds two degrees from the University of Arkansas and is a graduate of Fayetteville High School.

A former member of the Fayetteville Planning Commission, we found Clark to be extremely forthcoming about her life (Mayor Dan Coody vetoed her reappointment onto the Planning Commission in March 2007; Clark told us she always got along great with city staff and called her dismissal “ personal” ) and a variety of issues regarding county government. For example, Clark is a strong supporter of animal control; refers to countywide zoning as “ a protection agent for citizens”; is not a big fan of County Judge Jerry Hunton’s eminent domain proposal south of the courthouse; strongly believes in public transportation as well as energy efficiency; and strikes us as the analytical type who will research problems without jumping to easy conclusions.

We can easily imagine Reavis, a moderate Republican, serving the public someday. But today, we believe Candy Clark will do the best job filling the seat of longtime JP Jessie Bryant, who is stepping down.

Mark Kinion the clear choice for Ward 2 seat on City Council. He has built a resume of actual service to this community.

Mark Kinion
AGE: 51
EDUCATION: University of Arkansas, BS, food science and technology
OCCUPATION: Retired senior executive for GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
LENGTH OF RESIDENCY IN THE AREA YOU WISH TO SERVE: About 20 years
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Fayetteville Housing Authority, board of commissioners, past vice-chairperson;
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, member;
Partners for Better Housing, board of directors, founding board member;
Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods, past chairman; Wilson Park Neighborhood Association, past coordinator;
Humane Society of the Ozarks, past president, past finance committee chairman, lifetime member;
Ozark StageWorks, board of directors, financial development chairman; Planned Parenthood of Arkansas/Eastern Oklahoma, advisory board;
University of Arkansas Alumni Association, lifetime member;
United Way of Pulaski County, former vice president of campaigns;
No. 1 issues: Transparent government, open communication, mutual respect and trust.

No citizen should feel disenfranchised from local political activity. All residents should feel they have an avenue to be heard and know their opinion is respected and valued.
I will have regular Ward 2 meetings to let people know relevant information in a timely manner regarding issues facing our city. Additionally, I will encourage open and mutually respectful dialog between the constituency, other members of the City Council, city officials and city administrative divisions.
Trust will be built by promising transparent and measurable actions in regard to economic, environmental and social impact of city projects.
By open dialogue, transparent action, and measurable benchmarks accountability can be established.
This open communication model will be applied to every issue and concern.

Teenagers support Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Writ large: Firefighters, police officers endorse Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville

Please click on image to ENLARGE photo of Police and Firefighter banner endorsing Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas, on October 25, 2008.

Video clips supporting Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Please click on control below each video to play.

Fayetteville High School to be rebuilt on current site

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


Fayetteville High School To Be Rebuilt

By Rose Ann Pearce
THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- Just to be very clear on the future, the Fayetteville School Board plans to replace Fayetteville High School on its current site, not remodel the existing building.

During a workshop meeting Tuesday, board member Tim Kring made a motion "to proceed in the development of a 21st-century curriculum plan and a matching new, not renovated, facility on the current site."

But before voting on Kring's motion, board member Becky Purcell suggested the board delay the vote until the regular meeting on Thursday to allow public comment.

Several board members said they opposed attempting to remodel the 50-year-old building, noting it should be replaced.

"I don't think remodeling is economically efficient," said board member Tim Hudson. "Just rehabbing the current building is not worth it."

The workshop was to give members a chance to discuss specific direction for the district's administrative team for the next nine months and to determine what decisions should be made before a new superintendent comes on board.

The board is conducting a national search for a new superintendent to replace Bobby New who will retire June 30. The board hired Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to guide the search.

Susan Norton, the district's chief information officer, said the administrative team is moving forward on determining site visits for teachers and principals to visit 21st century schools. There they will gather ideas as well as work internally on developing a 21st-century learning plan and accompanying staff changes.

"All this is huge and leads up to what a 21st-century school looks like," Norton said. Student achievement and closing the performance gap are driving the process, she said.

The board agreed design elements, such as technology, open space, small learning communities within the school, as well as instructional planning and staffing changes can be accomplished before the new superintendent is hired.

There was little discussion on specifics of a millage campaign that would be crucial to building a new high school. The earliest a millage increase could be voted on is probably in September 2009.

The discuss on building a new school or remodeling the old one was introduced by Purcell, who said she had no preconceived ideas about the high school except to the fiscally responsible.

She hasn't been able to determine specific problems with the buildings, she said.

"The appraisal says the buildings are in excellent condition," she said. "I've been trying to find a solid list of the problems with that building."

Other board members said the building is inadequate for developing a 21st-century curriculum in which teachers are more like facilitators in the classroom.

"The 21st century curriculum can't be done in the building we have," Kring said. "We need to have that decision made. Once the decision is made, we have to sing with the choir."

MEETING INFORMATION

Fayetteville School Board

When: 5 p.m. Thursday

Where: Ray Adams Leadership Center, 1000 Stone St.

Fayetteville police and firefighters urging people to vote for Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Please click on image to ENLARGE Firefighters and Police officers' endorsement of Lioneld Jordan for mayor.

Fayetteville police and firefighters urging people to vote for Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Please click on image to ENLARGE Firefighters and Police officers' endorsement of Lioneld Jordan for mayor.

Emergency workers' organizations

Fayetteville firefighters Web site
Fayetteville fraternal order of police Web site important to all

Fayetteville police organization endorses Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Please click on image to ENLARGE for easy reading of the Fayetteville, Arkansas, chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police's endorsement of Lioneld Jordan for mayor.

Firefighters endorse Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Fayetteville Fire Fighters Association endorses Jordan
Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/70088

The Fayetteville Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 2866 has endorsed Lioneld Jordan for mayor of Fayetteville in the Nov. 4 general election.
Other endorsements by the association:
• Don Conner — Ward 1, Position 2
• Mark Kinion — Ward 2, Position 2
• Craig Honchell — Ward 4, Position 2
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Artist William Flanagan supports Lioneld Jordan for mayor

Lioneld listens - and gets things done

I first met Lioneld Jordan at a union meeting on the University of Arkansas campus, where he played an important role in revitalizing the AFSCME chapter. What struck me about Lioneld as a union leader and later as a city council member was the way he listened to the concerns and ideas of his constituents and then planned and worked to answer those concerns and to make those ideas reality. He is a leader who pays close attention to the details while seeing the big picture. As union leader, he understood that making the university a better place for the workers would make it a better place for students, faculty and all staff. He took that same approach to his position on the city council. He listened and responded to his constituents while keeping the needs of the whole city in mind. Lioneld also shares two of my priorities for Fayetteville's future. He is dedicated to developing a green economy for our area to sustain our environment and make Fayetteville livable for all. As an artist, I particularly appreciate his support for a Cultural Arts District and a vibrant arts life in our city. I am confident he will follow through on these priorities, because here's what I know about Lioneld Jordan: He's an honest, trustworthy man who loves Fayetteville and has worked to make this city prosper. His door is open to all. He has served Fayetteville well on the city council and will be a mayor for all the people.
William Flanagan
Fayetteville