VOTE 2018: Sloan Scroggin to run for Fayetteville City Council in Ward 3

Sloan Scroggin / Courtesy photo

A University of Arkansas instructor and real estate agent who is also a planning commissioner plans to run for City Council this year.

Sloan Scroggin, 34, will run for the Ward 3, Position 1 seat currently held by Justin Tennant, who will not seek a third term in November.

Scroggin has taught math at the university for five years. During that time, he became a licensed real estate agent and was appointed to the Fayetteville Planning Commission.

He said it’s those varied fields that give him a distinct opportunity to make an impact at the council level.

“With my diverse background I believe I can look at issues from multiple view points and come up with unique solutions that work for all and not just a meet-in-the middle strategy,” said Scroggin.

He said sustainable growth is one of the key components of his campaign.

“The city is going to grow, and you deserve an alderman who will fight to make sure that growth does not take away what makes Fayetteville great,” Scroggin said.

Meet the Candidates

The following candidates have responded to a request from the Fayetteville Flyer for more information about their candidacy in the Nov. 6 election.

Ward 1
Sonia Gutierrez
Kris Paxton
Olivia Trimble

Ward 2
Martin Bemberg
Raymond Burks
Mark Kinion

Ward 3
Lucas Regnier
Sloan Scroggin

Ward 4
Adam Fire Cat
John La Tour
Teresa Turk

Safety of citizens through support of the police and fire departments, and successful job creation through partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce, Startup Junkie and the Northwest Arkansas Council are also pillars of his platform.

Scroggin said walkability and alternative transportation are important parts of his daily life in Ward 3. He said he spends most of his free time with his family, which includes frequent walks and bike rides to restaurants, stores, parks or to watch a movie by way of the city’s trail system.

He said the diversity of environments in Ward 3 is what makes that part of town so unique.

The ward includes several neighborhoods in northeast Fayetteville, including the Huntingdon and Candlewood subdivisions, as well as the newer multi-family complexes in the uptown area. Gulley Park, Fiesta Square, Lake Fayetteville, and the Northwest Arkansas Mall are also in Ward 3.

“There is always something to do in this part of town,” Scroggin said.

Filing for muncipal candidates ends at 12 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17.


Profile: Sloan Scroggin

Position sought: Ward 3, Position 1
Age: 34
Residency: Fayetteville resident since 2008, lived in Ward 3 for four years
Employment: Math instructor at University of Arkansas; Licensed real estate agent
Education: Masters of Economics, University of Arkansas in Fayetteville; Bachelor of Finance and Economics, University of Arkansas at Little Rock


Questions

What made you decide to seek election to the council? Is it something you’ve been considering for a while?

After starting my job teaching Math at the University of Arkansas I got the opportunity to notice how great Fayetteville is. I have always been interested in running for office. I have enjoyed sitting on boards and commissions and trying to find the best solution for all parties involved. To become more involved with my community I started working with Habitat for Humanity, Rotary (I am currently on the board) and I am on the Fayetteville Planning Commission. I endeavor to apply the Rotary four-way test to all my decisions. The four-way test is summarized below.

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

On the Planning Commission I work hard to find ways to best meet the goals above. With all request for changes I try to find the best solution that is good for Fayetteville and does not overly burden the neighborhood. I want to be on the City Council to continue that process of listening to everyone involved and finding solutions that are fair to all concerned.

This city is exceptional, and I am blessed to be able to raise my children here. I will fight every day to make sure that everyone feels blessed, now and in the future, to live in this city. To help keep Fayetteville a great place the three pillars of my platform are sustainability, safety, and success. As a Council Member I will make sure we have sustainable growth that is sensitive to what we already have, that as the city grows it stays safe by supporting the police and fire department and support the success of our citizens by working with groups like the Chamber of Commerce, Startup Junkie, and the Northwest Arkansas Council to create the jobs people need. The city is going to grow because it is such a great place, and I look forward to working to make sure that growth doesn’t detract from the characteristics that make Fayetteville so funky.

Is there anything in particular that drove you to reside in Ward 3? How would you describe that part of town?

I could easily live in any part of Fayetteville but the last two homes I have lived in are in Ward 3. My decision to live in my current house is based on location. The fact that it is very green (backs up to Scull Creek and the Greenway) and is located close to many great things offered by the city makes my house ideal. Since I work at the University of Arkansas I have a very short drive to work and feel comfortable walking around my neighborhood, to JBGB, the Malco movie theater, and many restaurants around uptown. I love biking to buy groceries or to hang out with my family in Gordon Long Park. There is always something to do in this part of town.

When I lived near the corner of Mission and Crossover, I enjoyed the mature trees and the accessibility to Gulley Park. My family would often bike ride through neighborhoods and enjoy picnics at Gulley Park. We could easily access grocery shopping and restaurants located at the corner of Mission and Crossover.

Ward 3 is quite diverse with many different environments. I believe all of Ward 3 can flourish with more walkability and bikeability. I hope to add this where it is needed when on the council. I also understand that the different areas of Ward 3 have different characteristics and their character must be respected with new development.

Are there any recent council decisions you agree or disagree with?

There are a few decisions that I really like that the city has approved in the last year. I support the Energy Action Plan put out last year. I will make decisions that get us towards those goals while being prudent with taxpayer dollars. I support the change to require real estate developers to have a plan approved with the city before they can start just destroying trees. The city has been designated as a Tree City USA city for 23 years. We have to make sure as we allow more development that is sensitive to the neighborhoods already in place with incremental development that also requires proper tree coverage. The last decision that I am really happy about is the raise to police and fire pay. We need to make sure their pay is competitive and support a police and fire force that anticipates future needs and not just responds after problems have already started.