Sixteen people have submitted applications to fill two upcoming vacancies on the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission.
The soon-to-be-open seats belong to commissioners Maudie Schmitt and Bob Davis, whose terms expire at the end of March. As owner of Cafe Rue Orleans, Schmitt holds one of four tourism industry positions. Davis owns Eason Insurance and holds the sole at-large seat.
Seven applicants have applied for open seats in the past including Michael Andrews, owner of Fresco Cafe & Pub; Cyrena Hattabaugh, sales manager of Candlewood Suites; Jim Huson, owner of Doe’s Eat Place; Shellie Morrison, co-owner of The Event Group; Hannah Withers, owner of Little Bread Co.; and Denise Youngblood, owner of Mojo’s Pints & Pies.
New applicants include Roger Barrett, manager of Nightbird Books; Terry Coberly, a retired teacher and former Bentonville mayor who ran for Fayetteville alderman in 2012; Bobby Ferrell, a retired communications manager and former Fayetteville alderman who served on the A&P Commission; Julie McQuade Heyes, executive director of Fayetteville Underground; Eric Howerton, marketer at WhyteSpyder, Inc.; Louis B. “Bucky” Jones, Jr., a retired lawyer; Steven H. Kay, a self-employed attorney; David A. Russell, a banker at First Security Bank; Terri Trotter, chief operating officer of Walton Arts Center; and Bill Waite, owner of Dickson Street Liquor.
The commission is expected to review all applications and choose a replacement commissioner on Monday, March 11 Monday, April 8* in the conference room of the Fayetteville Town Center.
* The commission cannot appoint new members until actual vacancies exist. Schmitt and Davis’ seats will not be officially vacant until April
The following people have applied for positions (info taken from submitted applications):
Michael Andrews – owner, Fresco Cafe & Pub
Fayetteville residency: 45 years
Why would you like to be considered? I want to serve. I have an understanding of the many groups and organizations in Fayetteville that request money from the A&P Commission. I will thoughtfully consider how we spend our taxpayers money to promote recreation and tourism in the City of Fayetteville.
Roger Barrett – manager, Nightbird Books
Fayetteville residency: 12 years
Why would you like to be considered? I think as a business manager, musician, writer and fan of the arts, I can bring a unique, neglected sensibility to the committee.
Terry Coberly – retired teacher
Fayetteville residency: 2 years
Why would you like to be considered? I would like to serve Fayetteville. I have 21 years of municipal government service. Fayetteville is a great city, and I would be honored to advertise and promote it.
Bobby Ferrell – retired communications manager
Fayetteville residency: 49 years
Why would you like to be considered? To try to use my knowledge and experience of Fayetteville to preserve what we have and build and develop for the future.
Cyrena Hattabaugh – sales manager, Candlewood Suites
Fayetteville residency: 5 years
Why would you like to be considered? I would love the opportunity to be more involved in this thriving industry here in the wonderful city of Fayetteville and could have a good perspective on what Fayetteville needs to help us all.
Jim Huson – owner, Doe’s Eat Place
Fayetteville residency: 12 years
Why would you like to be considered? I will work to get more business to town. I’m a business guy. We need to recruit people and business to Fayetteville. We need to turn this town back to business and people based and stop watching things go north.
Julie McQuade Heyes – executive director, Fayetteville Underground
Fayetteville residency: 9 years
Why would you like to be considered? I believe my various roles in Fayetteville (government employee, event planner, neighborhood member, and downtown arts business director) and experience will provide a valuable perspective for A&P decisions and discussions. I also have a good understanding of how public committees operate and responsibilities.
Eric Howerton – marketer, WhyteSpyder, Inc.
Fayetteville residency: 11 years
Why would you like to be considered? I would like to offer my experience and understanding of marketing and promotions to our community. I honestly feel that my service would be of benefit both to the citizens of Fayetteville as well as the committee itself.
Louis B. “Bucky” Jones, Jr. – retired lawyer
Fayetteville residency: 11 years
Why would you like to be considered? Experience in law, higher education, administration and public and legislative relations. Would like the opportunity to help “Sell & Tell” about Fayetteville.
Steven H. Kay – self-employed attorney
Fayetteville residency: 17 years
Why would you like to be considered? I believe that this commission is an important tool for the growth of our community. In order for Fayetteville to continue to be the heart of NWA, we must continue to promote our city and invest money into projects designed to bring more people to Fayetteville.
Shellie Morrison – co-owner, The Event Group
Fayetteville residency: 24 years
Why would you like to be considered? I have always been interested in serving on this committee, and would consider it an honor. I feel that I would bring a different type of expertise to the commission. Many of your past members have been restaurant owners and hotel executives. As the owner of a catering company, I am able to work outside the confines of my facility and deal with many other vendors, applicable to events that are held in Fayetteville. I also have a working relationship with clients and vendors from all aspects of the corporate arena. Lastly, I feel very strongly that Fayetteville needs to capitalize and expand upon its local attractions to keep people in our city and to draw more events to our city. I try to use local businesses whenever I can for shopping, eating out, etc. In our current economic climate, I feel that we should encourage this practice to help our business owners.
David A. Russell – banker, First Security Bank
Fayetteville residency: 22 years
Why would you like to be considered? Work to maximize use of Town Center to keep downtown Fayetteville thriving; help encourage tourism with effective events and reinvest tax dollars wisely.
Terri Trotter – chief operating officer, Walton Arts Center
Fayetteville residency: 22 years
Why would you like to be considered? I am a 14-year resident of Fayetteville. I have three children attending school and participating in activities around our city. My husband works for the public schools. We live here because we love it. The quality of life in Fayetteville is very high and the A&P is a major factor in that.
A major challenge for Fayetteville now is figuring out how we continue to grow and adapt to our surroundings. The opportunities in Northwest Arkansas continue to increase and Fayetteville has a unique and unmatched quality among its sister cities in the region on which we must capitalize. Leadership is key, and I would like to be part of that. We need to think big and be open to new ideas for how we can promote our city and grow economic development. Further, the commission needs to be very strategic in thinking about and planning its role in ensuring Fayetteville’s success.
I am a seasoned executive business leader with a strong background in marketing, promotions, budget-management and diplomacy. I believe these characteristics, coupled with my expertise in marketing and promotions, make me an outstanding candidate for the position. I would be honored to serve the citizens of Fayetteville on the A&P Commission.
Bill Waite – owner, Dickson Street Liquor
Fayetteville residency: 43 years
Why would you like to be considered? I would like the opportunity to serve on this commission to help ensure that A&P funds continue to be invested in those ways which provide maximum benefit to the City of Fayetteville in terms of promoting the city, expanding tourism and increasing our sales tax base.
Hannah Withers – owner, Little Bread Co.
Fayetteville residency: 5 years
Why would you like to be considered? I believe that the handling of A&P funds, which is a tax that we collect in our business, is a privilege. I think all dispersement of funds should be taken seriously, and discussed in depth.
Denise Youngblood – owner, Mojo’s Pints & Pies
Fayetteville residency: 14 years
Why would you like to be considered? With my knowledge of working in this industry and as a member of the community, I want to continue to increase the vitality of both.
Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission
The seven-member commission is comprised of two elected city officials (City Council members or the mayor), four owners or managers of businesses in the tourism industry (at least three from hotels, motels, or restaurants) and one person from the public at-large.
CURRENT MEMBERS
Maudie Schmitt – owner, Cafe Rue Orleans
Ching Mong – owner, Formosa Chinese Restaurant
William Lyle – executive chef, Ella’s Restaurant
Matt Behrend – general manager, Holiday Inn Express
Bob Davis – owner, Eason Insurance (at-large member)
Matthew Petty: City Council member
Justin Tennant: City Council member
A&P Funds
Legislation created the Advertising and Promotion Commission in 1977 with the passage of the Hotel, Motel, Restaurant (HMR) tax in Fayetteville. The 2 percent tax is split equally between the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the A&P Commission. The parks money is used for parks maintenance, operations and for capital improvements. The self-reported numbers do not include retail or liquor sales.
Shellie from the Event Group would be an excellent addition.
Watch and wait… a spot will be given to Terri Trotter so A&P can have more strength funneling more funds towards The Walton Arts Center.
Go, McQuade! What an asset she was on City staff! I hope she gets the seat! (P.S.Trotter, with the requests from the WAC is a total conflict of interest. Booooooo!)
Anyone but Terrie Trotter. We don’t need WAC folks funneling more money to that place.
For some reason I don’t think the commission should be choosing this…
The council chooses who goes on the board
Go Hannah and Roger!
A bit less than $3 million annually in taxpayer money is controlled by the A&P Commission. There is only one woman on the Commission. In April, Maudie’s term ends, leaving zero.
There are many compelling applicants from which to choose. At least half a dozen would do an excellent job. My preference is to appoint two kickbutt women to fill these seats. There are several with experience founding and operating successful local events. In my rubric for selecting an applicant, that experience is #1.
Gender should have nothing to do with it. What an outdated and narrow minded way of thinking. The best person for the job should get it. It’s that simple.
Failure to consider gender is narrow-minded and outdated.
Matt was saying he wants a women, so even if the women is less qualified than a man, he would go for her? That’s not right.
@Dog- I didn’t say that at all. I said there are many compelling applicants to choose from, and all things being equal, we should choose two women. I have actually read each of the applications, so I know it wouldn’t be unfair to anyone to choose two women because there are at least two women who are more than qualified.
I also stated my #1 criteria was experience founding and operating successful local events, not gender. I understand it is convenient to overlook important portions of my comment to support your narrative, but I won’t let that happen without a rebuttal.
What’s the big deal, Dog? Even if Petty gets his womenfolk onto the commission, there would still be plenty of men there to keep them in line.
That’s sexist.
I have no personal opinion on Ms. Trotter and I’m sure she is a fine citizen, but something would be legit rotten in the city of Fayetteville if someone from the WAC is appointed to the A&P. What a massive conflict of interest. Unless Ms. Trotter were to abstain from all WAC-related votes, it would be difficult to maintain an appearance of propriety on the commission.
@blarrrgh – If appointed, Ms. Trotter would be required to abstain from all WAC-related votes. Additionally, I intend to bring forward new Rules of Procedure (the A&P doesn’t have any now and simply uses Robert’s Rules), which would require any Commissioner to abstain from any discussion from which he or she would personally benefit.
I’m not saying I’ve chosen her, but I wanted to make sure everyone understood she wouldn’t be allowed to vote on items like that. We have the same issue with Bill Waite, who has applied and also sits on the WAC Board. We have a question into the City Attorney to see if they would even be able to vote on the general budget if the HMR bond proposal for the WAC expansion were passed, since the bond payments would be included in the general budget were that to happen.
How can AP Commission do business if people abstain from votes whose outcome could benefit them financially or professionally? Qualifications for appointment (of the majority) include close connection and financial interest in matters at hand. Conflict of interest is built in. Attempts to mitigate its effects are laudable but cosmetic. From the by-laws:
“Section 3. Membership of the Commission.
There shall be seven members of the Commission.
As specified by state law, four (4) members shall be owners or managers of businesses in the tourism industry, at least three of whom shall be owners or managers of hotels, motels, or restaurants, and who shall serve for staggered terms of four (4) years.
Two (2) members of the Commission shall be members of the governing body of the city and selected by the governing body and shall serve at the will of the governing body.
One (1) member shall be from the public at large and shall serve for a term of four (4) years.
All members must be residents of the city.”
@Aldo – The benefit derived from a decision has to be more direct than simply owning/managing/working for a restaurant or hotel who would benefit from attendees of a third party event.
The relevant bylaw is in the Conflict of Interest, Section 1(b). “A member of the Commission may participate in, vote on, influence, or attempt to influence an official decision if the only pecuniary interest that may accrue to the member is incidental to his position or accrues to him s a member of profession, occupation, or large class to no greater extent than the pecuniary interest could be foreseen to accrue to all other members of the profession, occupation, or large class.”
As an example, consider a Dickson St bar/restaurant owner. It would not be a conflict to vote on BBBQ funding for a typical bar owner. However, if that bar owner were a board member or subcontractor of BBBQ, then there would be a conflict.
Why elect a person who would have to recuse him/herself from such important votes?
And then there’s the issue of whether undue influence could be exerted on other commission members by a person with such conflicts of interest –the temptation to trade off votes on pet projects for instance or simply the special access provided to decisionmakers that comes with having a seat on a particular commission, board, council or whatever.
We seem to be stuck with lobbyists in general but we shouldn’t elect or appoint them to decisionmaking bodies.
There are a lot of good and very qualified people in this list, including Terri Trotter, who deserve thanks for stepping up and offering their service. We should feel lucky that volunteer civic positions in this city have such a waiting line. It’s too bad that this isn’t recognized all of the time.
I think Matt Petty is an OK City Council Person for Ward 2. However he doesn’t have the experience stated in his own #1 criteria of founding and operating successful events to be on this committee. Anyone else notice the arrogance with which Mr. Petty often publicly states his opinion? A little humility may serve a publicly elected official well. He just seems to like to stir up dissent rather than promote unifying ideas which would effectively move Fayetteville forward. Why is he on the A&P? I just don’t see what he offers in the arena of advertising and promoting Fayetteville. It is my understanding he was appointed by the Mayor and did not have fill out an application or be interviewed. Therefore he would not be a compelling “applicant,” right? Petty and Hefner is an unlikely team destined for power struggles, conflicts and self promotion not city promotion. How could Fayetteville disband this commission and establish a more fair way to allocate hotel, motel, and restauraunt tax proceeds?
What seemed arrogant about his posts in this thread?
Petty smokes does drugs, so I question everything he says. This is fact he said this in a post last year.
It’s a fact because he said it, eh? It must be tiring chasing your tail all day.
It is inconsistent of you to question everything Mr. Petty says because, you allege, he alleged that he smokes marijuana, but not question his allegation that he used marijuana– which is one of the things he has said.
This inconsistency on your part calls everything you say into question.
True unfortunately. Illegal activity makes me question Petty’s character. At least don’t admit it on a public forum. Is it really worth smoking weed and ruining such a bright future Petty???
Ever speed? Illegal. Throw trash anywhere but a container? Illegal. Drink and drive? Illegal. Jaywalk? Illegal.
Your sanctimonious holes should actually get out and do something rather than take cheapshots on a Flyer comments section. Petty’s honest and open; how many politicians can you say that about? He’s one of the best things the people of Fayetteville have going for them.
Most people break the law every day driving to and from work.
Yep. He honestly obtained some illegal weed?? Wonder who he got it from (dealer) or does he grow it??
Shane, besides being irrelevant to the conversation, that is a false dilemma. One need not purchase nor grow marijuana in order to consume it. Ever been to a cocktail party, concert, or other social gathering?
Huh?! Matt Petty is often the lone voice of measured reason and progress both in city hall and on the A&P. He literally has nothing to gain, in terms of money, so I actually tend to trust his direction more than I would someone with a clearly vested interest.
If you have a legitimate beef with the A&P, by all means pursue its demise. But Matt Petty is as honest and forthright as they come and more politicians could take notes from the guy.
That’s right- he can walk on water!
You people are exhausting.
No one can. I don’t believe in fairy tales, religious hoo-ha or any other mularkey: Just results. I like what I see from Petty. Again… if you can do better, step up. Otherwise, shut up.
“He literally has nothing to gain, in terms of money” How about his political career? Notice Mayor Jordan vacated his seat when the UofA made a $1 million request. He realized the negative consequences of what voting YES or NO would have on his re-election. That mind-set effectively hindered his decision making as a commisioner for the entirety of his term on the commission. People will always be highly oppinionated of the A&P’s distribution of funds because of their own personal beliefs, interests and affiliations. At the end of the day the A&P commission is not making decisions based so much on public oppinion and popularity, but economic impact. We can argue all day over what we like more, a park or a theatre expasion, stage race or block st. party, ultimately it is the A&P commission’s duty to make an informed decision on which has the greater economic impact for the city of fayetteville and it’s businesses. Matt Petty, in my oppinion, is a good politician and great asset to this city. However, I’m cautious of how his political aspirations may affect some of his decion making while on this committee.
@Fay Resident-
I don’t think the A&P Commission has much to do with anyone’s political future. Politics don’t drive my decisions there. I am there to push the Commission to implement best practices, changes which are so basic they shouldn’t be political at all. Hiring a lawyer, implementing standard rubrics for judging funding requests, performance measures for measuring the success of those requests, Rules of Procedure, etc. If there is a perception that my motives to accomplish those things are political, it is only because there is resistance to doing things the standard way and it is natural to react to the public struggle for progress cynically.
When it comes down to it, there are many things that are much more important than the A&P. The A&P deals with not quite $3 million annually and that money goes to nice-to-have’s. The City deals with around $130 million and uses it to build sidewalks, repave roads, deliver police and fire services, pick up your trash and recycling, etc. Most city services aren’t sexy, but they affect each of our lives every day and, in the abstract, they are more important than the A&P. My political future hinges on my ability to make those services better and make progress on big must-haves, not anything else.
I certainly won’t argue that the A&P needs some big time fine tuning and checks and balances, but I couldn’t be more relieved that Matthew Petty is now on the A&P after this last year. I truly hope he has aspirations to be mayor someday. But, in the meantime, every single topic I see him tackle as an alderman has Fayetteville’s interest at heart. Not business relationships or any of the crap everyone should be tired of, but the actual quality of the community itself. He seems to have a great sense of priorities for Fayetteville’s future that aline very often with mine. The fact that some people can objectively look at his track record as an alderman and think otherwise exhausts me, but something tells me there’s nothing objective about it.
Im betting that petty’s campaign treasurer gets his nomination for A&P commission.
Hannah Withers? You bet. I’ve supported her application to the A&P since 2011.