“I don’t want to call out any specific commissioner, but it is my firm belief that if you’re going to do business with the commission and you sit on the commission, that we should at least have an extra check in place,” said Freeman.

From: A&P Commission changes policy on commissioner-related contracts
Fayetteville Flyer – April 15, 2010

Commission Director Marilyn Heifner said she placed two ads requesting proposals for the insurance contract in a newspaper, but received no response other than a renewal bid from Eason.

From A&P Commission sticks with Sells Agency, Eason Insurance
Fayetteville Flyer – Sept. 10, 2010

“Eason shops various firms each year to get us the best deal,” Heifner explained. “I called several insurance companies several years ago and Eason was providing us with the best price.”

However, Eason is operated by Bob Davis, who serves on the commission.

Northwest Arkansas Times – Nov 28, 2009

Interesting, I wonder how many people moved here because the U of A, Tyson, Walmart or one of the other dozen or so companies in the area. I would be hesitant to say that all the new folks in town came because Marilyn Heifner lit the beacon of Fayetteville and attracted all the outsiders. Unless you’ve asked everyone why they’ve come here, you can’t say it’s because of Heifner and the A&P.

“There are too many people living in Fayetteville now.)”.. Listen to some Dylan and realize that times are a changin my man. It’s called growth, its good for business and good for the town. Maybe you should move on down the road if you don’t like new people moving in, cause it aint gonna stop anytime soon.

Funny “X” how you left off the Bikes and Blues fiasco, run by Johnson & Johnson & Johnson, a pimping out of our city for outside vendors and ruining a whole week every year

It stinks. She’s a major reason. End of story.

It’s evident that she’s very involved in her job and career, but this is probably a tell that shows us that she’s a bit too invested. How about we let somebody else have a stab at it? Like you said, she’s done this for thirty years. Time for a break. :)

(This is not to say that I would not prefer that some several thousand of them had gone somewhere else. There are too many people living in Fayetteville now.)

“I’ve heard some people are asking, “If Marilyn Heifner did that what else has she done?”
Well, here are few things: The Air Museum, The Town Center (conception, construction, management and marketing), The Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lights of the Ozarks, The Heritage Trail, Liquor by the Drink, Sunday Liquor Sales, The Clinton House, marketing Fayetteville in such a manner that it appears on numerous ‘Best Places’ lists – and those are just a few projects off the top of my head that were either led or influenced by Marilyn.
Not included in this list are the countless businesses and people she’s advised and supported – all in an effort to make Fayetteville, Northwest Arkansas and the State the best they can be. She has been a walking billboard for Fayetteville regionally, statewide and nationally. There was a good reason she was named to the Tourism Hall of Fame.
I’m not going to argue the importance of The Freedom of Information Act or the grey areas of the act. Nor will I lambast the newspaper for the excessive front page and op-ed coverage. What I want is for the commission and the citizens of Fayetteville to recognize Marilyn’s unselfish devotion to Fayetteville and the hard work she has put in to make Fayetteville, our home, a better place.
It doesn’t seem right that Fayetteville could lose one of its best champions – all because she was trying to negotiate a fair deal for the Commission and for the citizens of Fayetteville to preserve the heart of our downtown Square.”