Final thoughts: Lioneld Jordan
Over the last few months you’ve gotten to know the candidates personally and politically as they’ve been kind enough to answer all of our questions. Even the silly ones.
With election day fast approaching and early voting already underway, we’ve invited all six of them to share some final thoughts. Just like the previous interviews, comments will be closed on these posts.
From Lioneld Jordan:
I want to thank the Fayetteville Flyer for the exemplary public service it has rendered to local residents by conducting candidate interviews and by posting information about the ballot issues online for discussion. I am also appreciative for this opportunity to again share my thoughts about the campaign with your readers in an unedited forum.
During this campaign, I have participated in numerous public debates and forums with a fine field of candidates, and I have tried to present a positive platform for the future of Fayetteville that includes all of our residents. I love this city with all my heart, and I have offered my ideas for an economic development plan that is centered on good jobs and green jobs that pay a living wage; for expanding our parks, trails, and greenspace with policies that are more environmentally sensitive and sustainable; for a comprehensive infrastructure plan that includes more sidewalks, bike lanes, and mass transit options; for a balanced budget and better management practices to reduce wasteful spending; and for an open and responsive government that includes all points of view, keeps the public informed, and takes their concerns seriously. I will be responsible, and I will be accountable.
It is unfortunate that campaigns are sometimes mired by unfounded rumors and negative attacks. Even good people say foolish things when they become desperate in political campaigns, and that is not limited to some of the wild charges being made in the presidential campaign. I don’t wish to dwell on the negatives, but I do want to address and dispel three things that are being whispered against me in this race.
After I was endorsed by the Fayetteville Firefighters Association and the Fayetteville Fraternal Order of Police, one of the candidates started saying that I had made some secret promises and was plotting a union takeover of city government. That is ridiculous. I am proud to have been a member and officer of my union at the University of Arkansas for more than a decade. During my eight years on the City Council, I have always been an advocate for the interests of working families, and I will continue to be when I am mayor. You can count on it. But never have I made any attempt as an Alderman to unionize city employees, because I do not think it is appropriate for elected public officials either to encourage or discourage public employees from exercising their constitutional rights to join a union if they choose. Our dedicated city employees deserve fair treatment and fair pay, and I will always listen to the ideas, concerns, and suggestions of all employees and deal with them in good faith.
Second, I am proud of my long record of open communication with my constituents, keeping them informed and helping them with their problems and concerns. Shirley Lucas and I have conducted monthly Ward Meetings, and I have participate in 104 of them during the last eight years. We believe these are important for an informed electorate and necessary in a representative government that takes citizens seriously. I have proposed as Mayor to expand this concept to Town Hall Meetings with an open microphone in every ward of this city and one on the University of Arkansas campus to involve our students more fully in the community. One of the candidates has disparaged these meetings as meaningless, because he doesn’t think any meeting is important unless it produces a new ordinance. I strongly disagree with that attitude. Not every problem requires a new law to fix it. With open communication and dedicated management, problems can be avoided or solved without more ordinances. But more importantly, It is never a waste of my time to provide information to citizens, listen to their concerns, and learn what I can do to help them.
Finally, there have been false statements about my environmental record. I am proud of my strong voting record on environmental issues, and I was honored to have received the endorsement of the Sierra Club in this election and their 2003 award for outstanding local public official in Arkansas for my work on the city council. I supported the plan for an Audubon Nature Center at Wilson Spring and voted against the mayor’s proposal to sell it to a developer. I supported and voted for the Hillside and Tree Protection Ordinance that was vetoed by the mayor. We are only temporary stewards of this earth, and I will continue to stand firm on environmental issues, not only for today’s residents but for our children and grandchildren.
Thank you again for your interest in this campaign and in the views of all of the candidates. Our community is wonderful, our future is bright, and I hope to have the opportunity and honor to serve you as mayor. I encourage everyone to vote, including those of you supporting one of my opponents, because it is so important that the voice of the people be heard.
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