With today’s noon filing deadline for this fall’s elections, council races have emerged in only two of Fayetteville’s voting wards.
Up for grabs this November were Position 1 seats in each ward as well as the city attorney’s position.
Current City Attorney Kit Williams filed for re-election, but was the only individual to file and will face no opponent.
Here’s a look at each of the four wards:
Ward 1, Position 1
Adella Gray
Current Ward 1 alderwoman Adella Gray filed for re-election, but will run unopposed.
This one’s no surprise as Gray said last month that she wanted to stay on the council.
Ward 2, Position 1
Mark Kinion
Adam Fire Cat
Mark Kinion and Adam Fire Cat were the only two residents to file for the Ward 2 seat left vacant by current alderman Kyle Cook.
Kinion, who narrowly lost the Position 2 seat to Matthew Petty in 2008, announced his candidacy earlier this year.
Cat ran for mayor in 2008 along with five other candidates, but lost to Lioneld Jordan. After briefly considering a Senate run, he switched his focus to the Ward 2 council seat this summer.
Ward 3, Position 1
Justin Tennant
Justin Tennant was the only person to file for the Ward 3 seat.
This comes as somewhat of a surprise considering current alderman Robert Rhoads was reportedly planning to seek re-election.
Tennant, who announced his candidacy in March, will run unopposed.
Ward 4, Position 1
Rhonda Adams
Jeff Dickey
Rhonda Adams and Jeff Dickey filed for the Ward 4 seat left vacant by current alderwoman Shirley Lucas.
Adams, who announced her candidacy in late June, thought she might face retired Army Green Beret Jim Laubler. Instead, Laubler has decided to serve as Dickey’s campaign manager.
The others
Central United Methodist Church organist Jonathan Story was expected to file in Ward 2, but missed the deadline according to city clerk Sondra Smith.
Feltner Bros. manager Josh Nowell this week told the Northwest Arkansas Times he planned to run in Ward 4, but did not file.
Ongoing coverage
For a ward map and all of our ongoing coverage including photos and bios of each candidate, visit fayettevilleflyer.com/council2010.
The city council members who decided for the paid parking on little ole Dickson street is ridiculous .We need to elect new officials or make sure they listen to the voter’s voice unlike Mayor Jordan did to us the last couple of months.
Why are we seeing a trend toward uncontested local races like the above city council and for city attorney? Is it lack of interest, are the costs too high? Especially troubling is the city attorney position which pays very well. This is not a healthy trend.
Same old same old. People talk, but they don’t walk the walk. I have more respect for someone that tries to make change even if I don’t necessarily agree with them. For all the people that comment about the decisions being made by the city, get involved. Don’t just sit back and complain. Democracy is not easy. It requires active participation by the populace for it to truly work. People should start by at least voting. It’s sad that roughly 50% of the eligible voters are actually registered and then only 50% (maybe)of those vote.
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