Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan (left) and former mayor Dan Coody are the only mayoral candidates in 2012.
The Fayetteville Forward Green Economy Group, a division of the Fayetteville Forward Economic Accountability Council, recently sent questionnaires to each of the opposed municipal candidates.
Sarah Marsh, facilitator of the group, asked if the Flyer would be interested in sharing their replies.
Marsh said the group would not be issuing an endorsement. “Our intent,” she said, “is just to educate voters about the candidates’ positions that are relevant to our mission.”
Listed below are the unedited answers from Mayor Lioneld Jordan and former mayor Dan Coody.
Note: Several Ward 4 City Council candidates and one Ward 2 candidate also participated in the surveys. Visit the FFEAC Green Economy Group Facebook page to view those responses.
1. Connectivity / Congestion Management
Please assign each of the following strategies with a priority ranking according to what measures you would work to implement to improve connectivity, promote inclusive mobility, and reduce traffic congestion in our community (1=high priority 2= medium priority 3= low priority 4=avoid)
Lioneld Jordan:
- Increased funding for more and bigger highways – 3
- Moving forward with a Fayetteville-Only transit plan – 1
- Increasing efforts to build support for a regional transit plan – 2
- Expanding our trails network – 1
- Increasing our investment in sidewalk construction and maintenance – 1
- Adopting policies that promote density, in-fill development, and mixed-use zoning – 1
- Incentivizing employers to allow flexible scheduling and telecommuting when possible to reduce peak traffic demand – 1
- Improved maintenance of existing roads without adding additional capacity – Yes on maintaining existing road and adding capacity on arterials that can reduce traffic in center city.
- Road diets and other traffic calming measures to slow traffic down – 3
- Incentivizing employers to provide transit passes to employees – 3
- Working with our University to disincentives students from bringing automobiles to town, and/or using them frequently – 3
Dan Coody:
- Increased funding for more and bigger highways – 4
- Moving forward with a Fayetteville-Only transit plan – 1
- Increasing efforts to build support for a regional transit plan – 1
- Expanding our trails network – 1
- Increasing our investment in sidewalk construction and maintenance – 1
- Adopting policies that promote density, in-fill development, and mixed-use zoning – 1 We already have these.
- Incentivizing employers to allow flexible scheduling and telecommuting when possible to reduce peak traffic demand – 2
- Improved maintenance of existing roads without adding additional capacity – 1
- Road diets and other traffic calming measures to slow traffic down – 1 No more bumps, though.
- Incentivizing employers to provide transit passes to employees – 2 For when we have transit.
- Working with our University to disincentives students from bringing automobiles to town, and/or using them frequently – 1
2. What efforts would you make to improve the energy efficiency of homes and businesses in our community?
Lioneld Jordan: We have passed the state’s first residential energy efficiency building codes. With some data on experience in its success and benefits, I will ask staff to examine extending to commercial building. We are using Community Development Block Grant funds to weatherize 150 home in qualified low-income areas. We have also provided light bulb exchanges in public housing projects.
Dan Coody: Education is key to homeowners and businesses alike to understand how energy-efficient upgrades can pay for themselves.
I will push for HUD funds to concentrate on achieving the high R values and low air infiltration rates for low- income residents.
Spread the word about faster ROI when following the 2012 energy code and get builders to use it as a marketing tool.
Get at least one code inspector certified as an energy efficiency expert, so he or she can be well versed in EE building options.
Quickly adopt the 2009 code for commercial buildings and lay the groundwork for adopting the 2012 code for all new buildings.
Put an ad hoc panel of experts together to make recommendations on building materials and building types for experimental structures that are currently not allowed by code, like straw bale and recycled cargo containers.
Good publicity and recognition for high achievers in EE construction and green businesses. I wish Natural Building Solutions would have remained in Fayetteville instead of moving to Rogers.
3. What efforts would you make to promote and attract green businesses, i.e. businesses that utilize best management practices in relation to their economic, social and natural resources, to our community?
Lioneld Jordan: This has been a key point in our community and economic development strategy developed by Fayetteville Forward, and it is a targeted goal of our recruitment efforts directed in our economic development contract with the Chamber of Commerce. It has been very successful, including the opening of Delta Electronics, the first major manufacturing employer in Fayetteville in decades.
Dan Coody: Those types of businesses are naturally attracted to cities that share and support their practices. I will make sure the city is doing what it can to exceed that standard and recognize existing businesses that are meeting that standard as well. My philosophy is, as RichardFlorida states, build the city with the amenities that the creative class expect and they will come. And they have. The same is true for the green businesses we want to come here. Be the greenest city we can and share our story with the world so they will know we exist. We made great strides during my tenure and we need to get that momentum going again.
We HAVE to develop some property where we can encourage small start-ups that need low-cost space. Partnering with the U of A’s tech park, we can attract companies that have small space needs and big potential.
4. What efforts would you make to create and retain high-quality affordable housing in our community?
Lioneld Jordan: We received one of two $500,000 grants from Home Depot, and a portion of that is devoted to affordable housing with low-impact design.
Dan Coody: I have seen only one model that has excelled at creating and maintaining a growing stock of affordable housing, and that is the Housing Land Trust model. Chapel Hill, N.C., has one of the most successful examples of effective land trusts . If federal money and grants could be used to buy lots that would remain the property of the trust and builders were to construct super energy-efficient homes within affordable guidelines, the cost of the home would be reduced by the cost of the lot and utilities would be minimal. The homeowner agrees to terms that restrict the escalation of the home value to simple a consumer price index allowing for some building of equity. The homes remain affordable for as long as they are standing. Today affordable homes are built, the homeowner sells at market value, and we helped one person, one time.
5. What policies should we adopt to promote waste reduction and a higher landfill diversion rate in our community?
Lioneld Jordan: We have constructed and opened the state’s first Solar Bio-Solids Drying facility. This reduces landfill costs and provides a beneficial use of organic fertilizer for Fayetteville residents and businesses. We have also expanded commercial recycling, and we are currently operating successful pilot programs for apartment recycling and for glass recycling by restaurants and bars. This week we are breaking ground on the Marion Orton Recycling Drop-Off Center, conveniently located in center city and in the heart of the largest concentration of apartments.
Dan Coody: The “Pay As You Throw” program that my administration put in place increased participation dramatically. There are new technologies that allow for co-mingling that may make collection less costly and increase participation rates by 30% or more. The claim is, 98% of the material is recycled. It’s worth exploring. We need a “take it or leave it” room for usable building materials and other serviceable items, free to whomever has a use for it. We should learn from successful programs that have adjusted their codes to allow the use of salvaged construction materials. The pilot apartment program needs to be revamped to be more user-friendly if it is going to succeed. I do not support the construction of a drop-off site on a busy commercial corner on a main artery through town. That is a misuse of good commercial land. It needs to be placed in an industrial area.
6. Washington County has the third highest number of food-insecure children in our state. What efforts would you take to address this problem?
Lioneld Jordan: I initiated the “With a Can We Can” ongoing food drive for helping supply local food pantries.
Dan Coody: I want to form an urban farmland trust that protects good farmland inside and just outside the city for future sustainable food production. Agriculture is a “use by right” in any zoning, but selling produce is not. I will work with the city council to allow farm stands at the farms that are producing foods for our kitchen tables and restaurant tables. Seeds That Feed and CareCroppers are great examples of innovative young people stepping up to the plate and getting fresh produce to those who usually have to settle for canned vegetables and fruits. I will see that they get the recognition they deserve and make people aware of this great opportunity to help others. The USDA offers grants to develop local sustainable agriculture. As mayor of Fayetteville, I will work to build a coalition of university experts, farmers, and city officials to develop infrastructure to support local sustainable agriculture. I will work to build that coalition and help pursue the grant funding to support it.
7. What is the number one issue that you think is adversely affecting our community and what actions will you take to address it?
Lioneld Jordan: Jobs for everyone who is looking for work. In partnership with NWACC, the UA, the Fayetteville Chamber, and the NWA Labor Council, we opened the Green Jobs Training Center of Excellence in Fayetteville, and that training has now gone mobile throughout the region. In the last two years, despite a weak economy, we have added more than 1,775 new jobs in Fayetteville, and my goal is to increase that by at least 500 a year.
Dan Coody: The lack of good public transit. It affects our social services, our ability to attract good employers, and even our need for parking downtown. Obviously, step one is public education about the negative social and economic factors of not having it. Next is building public support for the funding. There are almost always grants for capital, especially for communities that have demonstrated a commitment to good public transit. We will certainly have to work with the Highway Department to accommodate bus shelters on College Avenue and every other state highway that runs through town. Currently, these are not allowed.
8. Would you be more likely to support urban density planning or less regulation of land use development?
Lioneld Jordan: Urban density planning and incremental sprawl repair.
Dan Coody: My record is clear: I initiated the Downtown Master Plan and the same planners were contracted to update our City Plan 2025. Both plans emphasized walkability, infill, transit-oriented development, and avoiding sprawl.
9. Would you be in favor of ordinances that enable small-scale urban agriculture?
Lioneld Jordan: Yes
Dan Coody: Yes
10. Do you believe the principles of property rights outweigh the importance of watershed conservation?
Lioneld Jordan: No
Dan Coody: Yes. We all live downstream, so one person’s property rights can have a flooding or polluting effect on another person’s property, but I am always aware of the possibility of overreach when it comes to legislation.
11. Tell us about something that you personally have done to reduce your environmental footprint.
Lioneld Jordan: My wife and I recycle, compost, and have weatherized the home we have lived in and raised our children since 1977. I also abolished the $500 a month mayor’s car allowance and now use a Prius from the city fleet for any official travel, saving money for the taxpayers and reducing carbon emissions.
Dan Coody: I am the only candidate in the country that I know of endorsed by Ed Begley, Jr. We have lived in very small spaces most of the last 30 years and have always had a small fuel-efficient car for everyday use. Our landscape is very low maintenance – some might say too low.
Our biggest step so far has been to build a home that is the most energy-efficient home on record in the U.S. It produces more energy than it uses by a factor of 14. We will use the excess energy that we produce to power an electric vehicle. Even without the solar system, our home achieved a HERs rating of 38, which even surprised our rating consultant. We have opened our home throughout the building process as a teaching tool for those interested in building their own home or designing and building for others. The energy we have produced is 21,000 kilowatt hours and has offset 14.5 tons of carbon.
No other candidate for office has done the work in their private lives that we have. I will carry this environmental ethic and drive into my job as mayor – just as I did with the trails system and the many other successful environmental initiatives that I accomplished in my tenure as mayor.
Good showing Coody!!
I spoke too soon on the Recycling Center article’s comment board. Here is slight mention of the Sustainable Cities Institute Program with Lioneld’s comment, “We received one of two $500,000 grants from Home Depot, and a portion of that is devoted to affordable housing with low-impact design.” I’d like to hear more about the progress on this program.
No homes have been built or any infrastructure installed. I think most of the money was spent on engineering, but there may be some left in the account.
Thanks Mr. Coody. I was having difficulty finding information other than the initial research and proposals. It’s unfortunate that it was not taken further.
I recently had a conversation on Facebook with a couple of people whose houses were built with insufficient engineering. Engineering is good stuff. Homes and infrastructure that fail to perform well due to lack of engineering are not sustainable.
The engineering was for roads, water and sewer David, not homes. Engineering for home foundations is a fine thing when it is needed. When it isn’t needed, it is an unnecessary extra cost.
I did mention infrastructure. Of course the homes to be built will require roads, water and sewer, even if they don’t need engineered foundations.
It appeared that you were trying to make it seem that spending money on engineering was somehow wasteful.
I have committed to remaining as neutral as possible with regards to the Mayoral election in order to ensure my agenda remains politically achievable, but I feel compelled to comment on this.
I think Coody is right to criticize the decision to build a drop-off site at the North St property (its value would be better used as an incentive for private developers to build affordable/mixed-use housing), but criticism of the Sustainable Cities Institute grant is unwarranted, in my opinion. The grant was for $500,000, an amount which seems large to us as individuals but at a neighborhood scale is only adequate for property acquisition, schematic design, and some infrastructure engineering. Indeed, that is exactly what the grant has accomplished, and it speaks volumes that Fayetteville was awarded one of the two inaugural grants in this program.
It is up to you as a voter to decide if Coody’s foundation or Jordan’s staff made the request for funding successful, and what that means to you. I just think this needs needs to be said: any claim that the grant has been merely marginal is not justified. Everything that has been accomplished through the grant is a necessary prerequisite to construction of affordable housing. Partners for Better Housing, the nonprofit administrating the grant (in concert with the National Center for Appropriate Technology), is transparent in their approach: that ownership of single-family housing and multi-family rentership are complementary components of a comprehensive workforce housing strategy. It is a fact that they have competently applied this grant to the uses for which it was intended. I am certain Flyer politicos would agree if they reviewed the relevant materials.
To the larger point that only land trust models are successful for implementing long-term and sustainable solutions to housing affordability, I would argue that approach is necessary but, in isolation, insufficient. I believe the only sustainable solution is to require that a percentage of all new development is affordable (defined as a percentage of median income). Unfortunately, that tactic, called inclusionary zoning, is prohibited in Arkansas. There is a way to change that; it is to offer publicly-owned property for sale with inclusionary conditions attached and present the resulting development as an example of success to the state legislature. I helped write a grant to do that, but I don’t want to take up space talking about that right now because it’s another topic and, however worthwhile that discussion may be, my intention is to defend the grant from the Sustainable Cities Institute.
Do you know if these proposals by PfBH, in particular Willow Bend, have received the funding to move forward?
@ArkStudent – You mean to construction? The land has been purchased and design work is complete. I don’t know if an agreement has already been reached with a financial institution for construction.
Hey, Matt, that was not a criticism of the grant, just an explanation of what happened with the money.
Well, now we know who is ready to take the GRE.
The local chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed Lioned Jordan for mayor…again. Enough said.
http://ozarkheadwatersgrouparkansassierra.blogspot.com/
According to something I recently read, the chair of the local Sierra Club Chapter is Stephen Smith who is heavily involved in Jordan’s campaign. His wife, Lindsley Smith, works for mayor Jordan.
Take that however you will.
Dan Coody’s record of environmental protection and progressive enactment of sustainability practices is clear.
It appears you may have read wrong:
http://arkansas.sierraclub.org/OHG.html
First, there’s this thing called Google. It’s useful in looking up facts when people are too lazy to do so and instead spread falsehoods.
I am not spreading falsehoods. The chair of the local Sierra Club’s PAC is Steven Smith. I also mis-spelled his name.
He is not the chair of the Sierra Club chapter, but he is the chair of their PAC, which is responsible for endorsements, etc.
Link to Arkansas PAC’s, chairs, etc here:
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/Registered_PAC_ARSOS_20121005.pdf
Oops, I meant chair of their Political Action Committee. Point remains.
C’mon, glutenfree. Some of us enjoy watching IO use the first Google search return he finds as valid research. He recently happened upon an outdated third-party 990 database and thought he’d “PWND” someone.
Well then I’d say IO is 1-1 in recent history then. Can’t BBBBQ be awful AND Jordan’s endorsements be a political/personal interest sham?
Let’s cut the hooey. You read that on Dan Coody’s Facebook page because he posted a massively long diatribe about it. You know exactly where you read it,
There is no question that Coody’s commitment to the environment is admirable and commendable, but just say “I love Dan Coody and nobody will change my mind” rather than obfuscate with “I read something recently.” Your words are lifted almost verbatim from his FB post.
Once upon a time I ended up on the Sierra Club mailing list. I have never received so much junk mail from one organization in my life. What a joke.
The NWA Times endorsed Dan Coody today. Congrats on the endorsement, Dan!
Thanks, Glutenfree! It was pretty spot on, I thought. I knew it would fire up the keyboards. Fun to watch! YeeHAAA!! Ride ‘em!
It has certainly been a busy day on the Flyer for comments. Haha.
Pitiful that you only got the one endorsement and they said this about you:
“We wish Coody had the relationship skills of Jordan. He says he’s mellowed a bit, and having had four years to ponder his leadership style, will work diff erently this time. We hope that’s true.
“His biggest challenge with some voters is convincing them he can be believed.”
And this about Lioneld Jordan:
“Lioneld Jordan deserves a lot of respect for maintaining city government during crises that included a dramatic economic slump and a crippling ice storm. His aff able personality and focus on inclusion of citizens and city staff deserve high praise. When it comes to making people feel good, Jordan gets high marks. Jordan is visible at practically any gathering of any size in town, where he can passionately proclaim ‘I love this city.’ And it’s clear that he means it.
“Everybody likes Lioneld Jordan, including us.”
And you’re crowing about that?
And to top that off you’re trashing the FOP (police), the IAFF (firefighters), and the Sierra Club? I don’t know if you’ve gotten around to dismissing the Arkansas Traveler editorial board yet. They’ve all endorsed Lioneld.
Pitiful behavior on your part.
HA! NWA Times. With friends like those…
I’m gonna be so glad to be away from all you liars and suckers.
You’re such a hater! You will miss the contentious small town politics of Fayetteville. Lucky for you, it will only be a click away…
Here’s a thoughtful blog/editorial post that I love, for undecideds:
http://www.thecitywire.com/node/24725
The fact that Mr. Coody was elected when there was a lot of catching up to do with infrastructure and a booming economy to fund it seems more like a matter of luck than a matter of skill as mayor. Warren G. Harding had much the same conditions as president, and he still managed to be a bad president.
The blog states very clearly that it wasn’t just a matter of “catching up”, but changing the status quo of how Fayetteville approached infrastructure and development in general.
Springdale has managed to plow 4-lane roads across their town in recent years. That’s a good example of how a city catches up with infrastructure. I don’t have any admiration for their development policies, however. Fayetteville’s were relatively similar prior to Dan being elected.
I guess I was misled by “he inherited a decaying infrastructure”.
Yes, he did. A luke warm endorsement in which it is stated that Lioneld Jordan is universally more likeable and that Coody claims to have mellowed out of office (and that the editorial board hopes that’s true) and that Coody will have a tough time convincing voters he is to be believed.
Yeowtch!
Rereading my answers, which I finished at midnight, number 10 is unclear. I meant to say no, which goes with the rest of my answer.
If you meant to say “No”, why did you say “Yes”? Can’t you just say “It’s complicated”?
The NWA times endorsement of Coody was the biggest reason I have decided to vote for
Jordan. It reminded me of the days past when Coody used the local news media for self (or should I say selfishly) promotion. The Times endorsement actually highlighted the characteristics I most admire in Jordan. It is very curious all City Council Members current and past (except for a couple that will also not endorse Coody) have publicly endorsed Jordan. The real power of the people comes through an effective City Council. For some reason the Aldermen that were on Council during the Coody years do not want to work with him again. I noticed Kinion who has voted in with the minority on issues such as Ferel Cats, number of unrelated persons in residential housing, the smoking ban in bars and the recent code change on how Council Committees bring items from committee to council even publicly supports Jordan. Petty has stated he will not endorse either Mayoral Candidate. I think these two council members are the most reasonable, well informed, and prepared aldermen ( I live in Ward 2) . If they had endorsed Coody I would have considered voting Coody instead of Jordan. Former Ward 2 Aldermen such as Kyle Cook and Nancy Allen have endorsed Jordan. Not sure the reason but this speaks volumes to me.
I have worked for the city for over 14 years and I can tell you from an employee’s point of view that I don’t want to work for Coody either. I know of several current employees that have worked for both, Jordan and Coody, and they will tell you the same. Coody is difficult to work for and with. Jordan is not. Jordan truly cares for his employees and the citizens of this city. He understands how to sit and listen and not “rule with an iron fist”. He is open to dialogue between those that work with him. When it comes right down to it, Coody is not the best fit for Fayetteville. He had his run and was beat. It’s time to move on and join in on the movement that Jordan and his staff has envisioned for the city.
Ha! Yeah, I had a couple of folks on the Council tell me I “made them work too hard.” My bad. If I get elected, we will be working hard, again. Idling in first gear may be easy, but you don’t get very far. Also, all except one of the Council people who endorsed Mayor Jordan voted for and support the downtown parking and Block street design, and the deck. I am an outsider when it comes to that line of thought. Here’s a fact. I am aggressive when it comes to getting progressive projects done. I care about quality and overall direction. I see what’s possible and I think Fayetteville deserves the best. Others are much more passive, letting things unfold however they want, with no cohesive plan. And when things are protested by the citizens for years, it falls on deaf ears. Here’s the beauty of our system: you can choose which kind of local government you want. I just want the town to be as progressive and livable as possible. I do not think we are headed there, so I am in the race. If we win, we will do cool stuff for the city. If we lose, I will do cool stuff for my wife and myself. Either way, I am a very happy camper! Cheers!
Wow. Guess that answers that question people keep asking about why you didn’t involve yourself as a citizen since losing the election. You only play when you’re in charge. No thanks.
Fayetteville will continue to progress and improve without you. Happily.
Great post and a good summary of precisely why I like you, Dan.
Fayetteville needs strong, intelligent leadership. That leadership needs to understand how to improve the city.
Nobody pleases everyone–not in a city of 75,000 people.
And its absurd to think that you’d be a “free consultant” to help direct the city towards more progressive policies, when we already have two guys being paid full salary to do that very job.
With all due respect, Mr. Coody, it’s answers like these in these pages that have lost you my vote, my spouse’s vote, and the votes of many of our friends and neighbors. your lack of tact and what I consider to be an almost juvenile approach to criticism and discourse makes me wonder if you are truly able to lead those who disagree with you. If elected, you just criticized your new employees, made them fearful for their jobs and worried about their work life. How irresponsible! I look at Matthew Petty’s responses and attitude on the Flyer as an example for mature, measured public discourse. I love so many things about your platform, I just cannot stand your attitude.
Nice endorsement Dan!
This comment sounds like a “well, if I don’t get to be quarterback, I’m taking my ball and going home.” There are lots on people who are not the mayor and still do cool stuff for the city. For example, there’s a woman who sits at the Mayor’s table every Saturday at the Farmers market in all weather conditions collecting food cans for the “with a can, we can” food drive. This is someone doing something cool for the city. Actually doing… not just talking about doing.
and she is a volunteer!
His response reminds me of that of LeBron James addressing critics after disappearing during the 2011 NBA Finals. Enjoy your life Dan, us peons will, too.
Hey Dan… How did Tennant, Adams and Kinion vote for downtown parking and Block Street when they were not on the Council at the time these votes were taken? I almost took you at your word but then I looked up the timeline. You may want to get your facts straight before blaming, berating and belittling those you may have to work with if you are elected. I tend to see a very hardworking City Council and I would like to publicly thank my Ward 2 Aldermen Petty and Kinion for the fine work they do for our City. Did you just say they were lazy? Even when I disagree with their vote I know without a doubt they are not idling in first gear. Since when does an elected City Council member work for the Mayor? It is bothersome to see a comment such as, “I made them work too hard.” Do you care to name of the couple of Council members who stated this or are we simply asked to take your word?
Mr. Coody are you aware that the City Council are elected official and were NOT your employees? You might need to get that figured out before running for any type of public office.
Of course City Council had to work extra hard. They also had to work as the mayor while you were gone on taxpayer time to month long trips to foreign countries and ski resorts!
I think this is an awesome reply by Mr. Coody. I can’t comprehend why people can’t simply base their vote on who they think will help make Fayetteville the nicest city it can possibly be. How in the world is that not the ONLY question people are asking themselves? Why in the world would people base their vote on personality as if they have to share a roof with the person? And why in the world would someone vote based on what a random employee wants to make their JOB easier, as opposed to the issues that will actually affect their own family and their home? It’s an election to decide who will make Fayetteville better — not to pick your new best friend. It’s fine if you want to debate actual issues that is fine and dandy, but this is an important election that will seemingly decide how Fayetteville is going to go forward and what and how we are going to build and grow. So please don’t make that important decision for me and my family like you’re a gossipy junior high girl.
tl;dr For the love of all that is holy stop saying you’re basing your vote on personality.
Do YOU go to work every day wondering if your arbitrary and capricious boss has decided he doesn’t like the way you answered him, so you’ve lost your job?
Do YOU go to work every day wondering if the project you have put your blood, sweat, and tears into for years is now tossed on the junkpile, because it doesn’t fit with a certain person’s personal agenda?
Do YOU go to work every day trying to make a difference, but being dismissed as not ‘intelligent’ enough, or ‘sophisticated’ enough, or being told to ‘don’t worry about it. Smarter people than you are working on it.’
Do YOU go to work every day in an environment where the leader looks at the workers and says, ‘We need to hire professionals to come in and do this. Let’s hire a consultant.’
Well—maybe you do. Then why would you want someone who demonstrates such poor leadership skills to be the leader of our fair city? No. It’s not about personality. It’s about leadership.
RE: “And why in the world would someone vote based on what a random employee wants to make their JOB easier, as opposed to the issues that will actually affect their own family and their home?”
1. It’s not some ‘random employee’. It is the two largest groups of employees, Firefighters and Police, and 99% of every other employee at the City, along with the vast majority of present and past aldermen.
2. ‘make their JOB easier’. Wow. You actually said that. You obviously don’t know any City employees. Those folks have had to work the past 4 years under the fear of not just getting furloughed, but losing their jobs, because of the economy. No cost-of-living raises. No additional people. If someone leaves, spread the work out among the rest. Why? So the City could be put back on firmer financial footing. Times have been tough for everyone, and the employees of the City are not immune. They have shouldered the burden and continue to provide us with great service. Your lack of regard for them is contemptible.
The conduct and leadership demonstrated by the person in the Mayor’s office has a HUGE and direct impact on everyone who lives in this city. And even more directly to the approximately 750 employees of the City of Fayetteville. It is well considered to listen to their opinion. These are facts, just as any other. The perspective of the City employees, those who have had to work the most closely with Mr. Coody, should carry weight, and help people make an informed choice regarding for whom they will vote for Mayor. It is about leadership. Listen to those who have had the clearest view of Mr. Coody’s leadership abilities, or lack thereof, and give their opinion the credence it deserves.
Are there really any issues in this campaign? Objectively, the two candidates are much closer on issues than not. Mr. Coody talks about the ‘personality’ of Fayetteville if he is elected. Mr. Jordan talks about what he wants to accomplish. That’s the big difference. Leadership.
jmo
Again, I personally couldn’t care less what any city employee has to say about this matter. Maybe it’s just me, but it has very, very little weight on my list of priorities. I certainly expect people that have to work for the mayor to vote for the mayor they’d rather work for. That’s pretty obvious. But I don’t think it’s too crazy to expect the rest of the city who never talks to the mayor to vote for who would make Fayetteville nicer for them. And then it comes down to an opinion — but maybe it’s too much to hope that it should be their own opinion and based on more than personality.
Dan Coody said: Ha! Yeah, I had a couple of folks on the Council tell me I “made them work too hard.”
Mr. Coody, if you made a couple of folks on city council “work too hard” it was because they were busy having to deal with the fallout from some of your “progressive projects” (see below).
1) The Wastewater System Improvement Project – 3 yrs late and $70 million over budget.
2) The failed Southpass Development that you spearheaded – the city never received the $1 million contribution from its developers, but it did take ownership of the 33-acre abandoned landfill located on the site.
3) The sale of Wilson Springs Business Park – we’re still waiting for the Audubon Nature Center you promised us.
4) The failed Renaissance Hotel/Downtown TIF district – in the end it will cost taxpayers $10 million and, so far, all we have to show for it is a paved parking lot and more blighted buildings.
5) The purchase of the Tyson Mexican Original building on Huntsville – it was to become a public safety complex serving the Police, Fire, District Court and Prosecutor’s office. The complex was never built and the property has become an eyesore.
Mr. Coody, you may talk a good game, but you have trouble closing the deal.
Just moved to Portland. Hope Fayetteville can follow in this city’s footsteps!
I read comments on here all the time and many of you are cyberbullies. I appreciate how you all have opinions about how to better our city, but come on – our discourse needs to be more civil. I was an undecided voter before going into the polls to early vote last week. I ultimately voted Coody because I’ve seen him four times out-and-about and he has always said hi, asked for my vote, and even remembered my name. I like Jordan, but I’ve seen him twice in public and he never once bothered to get out of his seat and ask for my vote. Coody is working very hard to get elected. If he wins, he has definitely fought hard for it. If he falls short, then good luck Jordan. Regardless, we do not need to be so mean to him for getting on here and defending himself or trying to promote his candidacy. Fayetteville will prosper with either candidate. I give Coody credit for taking so much BS on the Flyer comment section, but coming back each time to defend himself and attempt some civility. Haters-be-haters though. It’s easier to complain and bully in front of a computer screen than to actually get out and campaign or attend meetings to better our city.
It’s interesting that more than one supporter of Mr. Coody refers to disagreement as “hate”, and to people who disagree with or question Mr. Coody as “haters”. Why, that’s the sort of exaggeration we expect from Mr. Coody himself.
You have a very low threshold for disagreement.
I agree with majority of what you have stated. However, Coody can be a cyber-bully as well and he is a bully in real life when it is not campaign season. Once the election is over, do not count on him to go out of his way to say hello to you until campaign season comes around again. Mayor Jordan respects the privacy and personal space of citizens. He is not going to interrupt your dinner with your family to weasel a vote out of you. I do believe you have interrupted Mayor Jordan’s actions incorrectly.
Mr. Coody has gone as far as to jumping into the passenger side of an individual’s car at a gas station to ask for a vote. Creepy!
I hate to say it but you have been duped!
Oh, so you had Dan hound you on the courthouse parking lot. I’ve parked elsewhere just to avoid his pushy tactics.
LOL.
@Innarested Observer. Ask me four times and remember my name and consider it done.
@David Franks. I never said I was a Coody supporter. I said I voted for him. I think several of the posters on the Flyer are just needlessly mean spirited. No need to cuss or exaggerate here. I believe both men are good candidates. Its ok to disagree. There’s a difference between a debate and a yelling match though.
RE “I never said I was a Coody supporter. I said I voted for him.”
And in what way was your vote not support?
RE “There’s a difference between a debate and a yelling match though.”
There also is a difference between a yelling match and hate.
Comment removed. See our policy.
Just watched the Coody/Jordan chamber debate. Coody is passionate, articulate, informed on the issues and focused on the future. Mayor Jordan is reading a script (probably prepared by his staff as he is stumbling all over it) to try and defend the past. No mention of the future.
A clear choice for me to move Fayetteville “back to the future.”
Of course Mr. Coody doesn’t have a real job, so he has plenty of time to bone up.
Here’s one measure of Mr. Coody’s passion: after absenting himself from public participation for some three-and-a-half years between being voted out of office and running for office again. After steadfastly refusing to answer repeated questions about why that was, he had this to say:
“….Here’s the beauty of our system: you can choose which kind of local government you want. I just want the town to be as progressive and livable as possible. I do not think we are headed there, so I am in the race. If we win, we will do cool stuff for the city. If we lose, I will do cool stuff for my wife and myself. Either way, I am a very happy camper! Cheers!”
Mr. Coody is passionate about Fayetteville, as long as he is the mayor.
BONUS– An interesting blast from the past, just in time for the twentieth anniversary of its publication:
http://www.uark.edu/~kshurlds/LAW/facade.html
Franks:
Bone up? One would assume that since your guy (Jordan) actually has the job right now and is ostensibly working these issues day to day that he wouldn’t need a script. Jordan lost me the day he appointed Don Marr to do the bulk of his thinking for him. We didn’t vote for that. That’s what we got.
Its clear to anyone willing to listen to both men speak that one knows his stuff and the other is parroting. Hell, Jordan spent the first two years of his term saying “holistic approach to city government”, aping one of Coody’s favorite terms. I was embarrassed for him. But then again, I’m in the minority that actually gives a damn and pays attention to our city leadership year round. Maybe I need a life….
The problem with Jordan having so few ideas and so little substance is that you are reduced to doing whatever you can to portray the other guy as “evil, mean, devious, etc”. And that is the majority of the Jordan campaign. “Coody is a bad bad man!!!”
Coody is bright, articulate, and understands the things he speaks about.
If we pass on him again, its Fayetteville’s loss.
I LOVE FAYETTEVILLE! Jordan has never said it in all caps. I guess that makes me MORE qualifiied to be Mayor than him.
I am very important. Actually, I am the center of the universe. The entire world needs to know my opinion. That is why I spend so much time blogging. I mean, heck who am I to deprive the world of the type of brilliance bouncing around in my brain. It is not just anybody that can minimize one window, google some stats, and then cut and paste into the comment window. You guys need me.
Here are the links to the other candidates’ survey responses:
Ward 2 (Matthew Petty was the only candidate to respond):
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4juZX5zYFIGS1lWSU82dlBjYjA
Ward 4 (Candidates responses are in alphabetical order):
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4juZX5zYFIGZkY1a3dCNWxUOUU
Thank you Flyer Staff for doing such a great job covering this election.
According to his advertisement on Page 12 of the Northwest Arkansas Times, Mr. Coody is now claiming to have “Secured 1,200 acres of greenspace, parkland, and conservation easement (less than 12 new acres added in past 4 years)” during his term as mayor. This seems a far cry from the seven hundred acres he’s been touting for months.
Is it the conservation easements? Aren’t those usually on private property? If so, what does that have to do with being the mayor? Regardless of the justification for the change in story, here’s a rebuttal:
http://www.lioneldjordan.com/Political_Fact_Check__2_with_References.pdf
High comedy…
That rebuttal includes 200 acres that were part of South Pass. Lioneld Jordan didn’t have anything to do with getting those 200 acres. Jordan’s tenure has seen what, 17 acres of new greenspace added?
Another funny thing about that rebuttal is that they claim Dan added “toxic waste dump” area, but then neglect to mention that the same area they classify as “toxic waste dump” is part of the same 200 acres that Lioneld gallantly rescued from foreclosure and added to the city.
He claims he got those 200 acres, but they were part of the original approval of South Pass. He can piss and moan about how he rescued those acres from foreclosure or whatever, but they never would have come to the city if they hadn’t been a part of the original approval.
Slice it however you want, but 17 acres vs 500 or 700 (or however you want to look at it) is a pretty clear indication of how things are going under Lioneld Jordan.
We are approving crap development in this city the past few years that would never have passed five years ago. Our planning commission and our council used to have a strong leadership to look to for guidance. Not anymore.
Now, we’re basically developing like Springdale. I would say Rogers or Bentonville, but those two cities have blown past Fayetteville as far as the quality of new developments and investment in their cities the past 3 or 4 years.
You can demonize Dan Coody as much as you’d like, but its clear that Fayetteville is slipping.
Fayetteville no longer has the best shopping or dining in NWA.
Benton County is going wet, and if things continue as they have in Fayetteville, in 5 years we won’t even have the best downtown.
And its a foregone conclusion that Fayetteville has lots its place as the leading arts city in the region.
City leadership hasn’t helped Fayetteville by stacking tax dollars into savings instead of investing in the city.
Hey, but Lioneld’s a nice guy. So is my next door neighbor. Neither have a clue how to keep Fayetteville progressive and vital.
RE “That rebuttal includes 200 acres that were part of South Pass. Lioneld Jordan didn’t have anything to do with getting those 200 acres.”
Who was mayor when the deed to the Southpass property was transferred? Isn’t that what we go by? The acquisition of that property was not secured (Mr. Coody’s word) until the deed was transferred. That’s what deeds are for.
RE “We are approving crap development in this city the past few years that would never have passed five years ago.”
Examples, please. Eco Modern Flats? Sterling Frisco? Certainly nothing like those wonderful acres of Godforsaken sprawl out along Mount Comfort Road, or the Legacy Building, or the Divinity Building.
RE “Our planning commission and our council used to have a strong leadership to look to for guidance. Not anymore.”
The Mayor– whoever it happens to be– doesn’t control, or even lead, the Planning Commission, and the City Council generally votes according to the recommendation of the Planning Commission.
RE “I would say Rogers or Bentonville, but those two cities have blown past Fayetteville as far as the quality of new developments and investment in their cities the past 3 or 4 years.”
What exactly would Mr. Coody have done to get the Hunts and the Waltons to invest in Fayetteville instead of on their own land or in their home towns? How would Mr. Coody have countered hundreds of millions of dollars in development resources?
RE “You can demonize Dan Coody as much as you’d like”
I have never demonized Mr. Coody. Perhaps you are too sensitive, or prone to exaggerate. (Birds, feathers– you know.)
RE “Fayetteville no longer has the best shopping or dining in NWA.”
I’ll bet a lot of local restaurant and shop owners, and their customers, would take issue with that assessment.
RE “Hey, but Lioneld’s a nice guy.”
Mayoring is more than having the vision to take credit for the accomplishments of others. I think we’re going to see that nice works.
You never did explain the changing story, which just gets better as Election Day nears.
When I took office in 2001, one of my first official actions was to settle the Sierra Club lawsuit against the previous administration for the breach of city ordinance concerning the Kohl’s development. We negotiated an agreement to buy 2 or 3 hundred thousand ( I can’t recall the exact number) dollars worth of greenspace. During my 8 years in office, I personally spent hundreds of hours negotiating for greenspace, trails corridors, parkland and conservation easements for the citizens of Fayetteville. I had a passion for it. Before I left office at the end of 2008, I asked the parks department to give me a total of all those types of land that had been secured for protection from development or for parks and trails, Mt. Sequoyah land, Brooks Hummel land, etc. The number was around 350 acres. If you add the land that was put in conservation easement that the city did not actually own, you would include the Frank Sharp conservation easement, that the city accepted, and the 120 acre conservation easement at Wilson Springs. I count the 200 acres from the Southpass development among them because it was my administration that went through the process to choose the land. It was my concept to have developers give it to the city, and I was a party to the actual negotiations for the final contract. Just because the city didn’t get the deed until after I left office doesn’t give Lioneld the right to claim any credit. It was under contract. Going into foreclosure didn’t change the fact that the bank that loaned the money was a party to the contract. Either you fulfill the terms of your contract, or you get sued and lose.
An administration can have an affect on how land is preserved other than adding it to the city’s ownership inventory. One example is the Woolsey Wet Prairie. We could have simply purchased wetland credits instead of restoring a magnificent wetland. Now we have an incredible resource for wildlife and nature study as well as excess credits that we can sell or use in the future.
We also put into conservation easement 500 acres surrounding Lake Sequoyah. It is now protected from any future administration potentially selling it for development.
There is no comparison between the efforts put forward during my term and the effort of late. Whether it is 12 or 17 new acres added by the Jordan administration, it is a sad showing. The people I worked with to achieve all this know the difference between Lioneld and me. They know who can really make things happen for Fayetteville. I don’t have to take credit for other people’s work to plump up a very thin resume
Facts.
Fayetteville, this is what a good mayor looks like.
You can believe all the lies the Jordan folks will tell about Dan Coody, or you can choose to support a guy who changed Fayetteville for the better in ways that will impact Fayetteville for generations. I honestly have no idea how this election is even close.
Compare the ability, intelligence and achievements side by side.
RE: ” I honestly have no idea how this election is even close.”
How close is it? Please enlighten the uneducated rabble so we can get our bets down on the over/under.
Dan Coody actually said, ” I don’t have to take credit for other people’s work to plump up a very thin resume.”
Then he should stop claiming credit for the trail system, the new public library, and the senior center. All of these were set in motion by Mayor Fred Hanna. All three are covered in the 2000 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the year BEFORE Coody took office.
http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/accounting_and_audit/documents/cafr/2000%20CAFR.pdf
Written by Julie Mcquade, who worked with both Mayor Jordan, and Mr. Coody before that:
“I want to share the lessons I learned through personal experiences in each mayor’s administration. The differences say a lot about the integrity and leadership qualities of each.
During Coody’s administration the lessons I learned were:
1.
My job was more about “spin” than real communication.
2.
An item that passed at City Council without any discussion was a win.
3.
If an issue was mentioned in an editorial, you expected to spend many hours covering the mayor’s position and also expected a city staffer to be the fall guy, if it reflected negatively on the mayor.
4.
Whatever the mayor promised in public, staff had to find a way to make it happen, regardless of legality or ethics.
5.
City staff survived only through keeping their heads down and covering their rears, at all costs.
6.
An expensive plan or program by outside consultants was more important than local community input. Financial feasibility or possibilities of implementation did not matter at all, as long as the mayor got impressive awards.
During Jordan’s administration the lessons I learned were:
1.
My job was communication and facilitating opportunities for everyone to get involved in city decisions.
2.
The mayor wanted many discussions, differing opinions, and wide-spread input on an item before developing a proposal for City Council and he encouraged continued discussion with the City Council.
3.
If an issue was mentioned in an editorial, expect to spend time getting the mayor all the relevant facts on the issue. If an issue was controversial, the mayor would give the City Council the opportunity to discuss and make a decision, rather than try to sweep it under the rug, even though he knew some would be unhappy with the decision the City Council would have to make.
4.
As staff, you could trust that the mayor would never compromise the legality or ethics of the city administration or city staff .
5.
As staff, the mayor was your biggest supporter. He would do his best to get you the recognition and compensation deserved.
6.
Several aspects were weighed before considering a project/ program/plan; financial feasibility, possibility of implementation, the long-term costs, return-on-investment, sustainability and the whole-community impact/involvement.
-on-investment, sustainability and the whole-community impact/involvement.
Admittedly I was a supporter of Coody before 2008. I did not know Jordan, and used to justify my supporting Coody by stating, “As politicians go, he isn’t too bad.” Then I got the privilege of getting to know Jordan and working with him. When I’m asked about my support of Jordan, I now say, “He is a good, honest man who happened to get elected to office.” Jordan isn’t a politician. You can trust what he says, whether you agree with him or not.”
We get to choose what kind of leadership we will have for the next four years. I chosse to vote early for the good, honest one.
RE “I count the 200 acres from the Southpass development among them because it was my administration that went through the process to choose the land.”
Your ad says “secured”. Choosing is not securing. Ownership of land is not secured without a deed. You didn’t get the deed. Much of the land you managed to secure as parkland is the parts of development tracts that were least valuable for building because it is in drainage areas. The developers chose that land, and you’re apparently taking credit for that.
RE “It was my concept to have developers give it to the city”
Now you’re taking credit for the Park Land Dedication Ordinance, which was passed in the late 1980s.
RE “We also put into conservation easement 500 acres surrounding Lake Sequoyah. It is now protected from any future administration potentially selling it for development.”
Now you’re even taking credit for future mayors not doing something that they were not likely to do in the first place. Very impressive.
RE “There is no comparison between the efforts put forward during my term and the effort of late.”
Good point. There certainly hasn’t been as much sprawl built as during your administration, so there hasn’t been as much mandatory contribution of land as there once was.
RE “I don’t have to take credit for other people’s work to plump up a very thin resume”
Really? You just do it for fun?
Don Marr should not be running city hall. He owes over $140,000 in federal and state income tax liens. He has lost 10 lawsuits, most by default, for nonpayment of debt, breach of contract, and fraud. As taxpayers, we pay him over $150,000 a year in wages and benefits and he won’t even pay his credit card bills. There are more lawsuits coming. The 500 city employees who have to answer to him are held to a higher standard of conduct than he is. Jordan hired him without any kind of background check. No experience necessary to run the city and manage our money.
Steve Smith, Jordan’s campaign manager, was convicted by the feds for conspiracy to commit fraud. Steve Clark, CEO of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce was convicted of felony theft by deception. A common thread runs through this re-elect Jordan committee. When Marilyn Hefner was raked over the coals for a month for an email screw-up, why the silence on these crooks running city hall? Where is any reporting on this? Mikel Lolly was right. The good ol’ boys are in full control. Honesty be damned. Anyone who believes this is “experience you can trust” is smoking crack.
ATTENTION: Fellow Jordan Supporters
These comments from the Coody Camp are not even worth correcting anymore. Tuesday will be here soon!