Our best choice is Dan Coody
After attending a small informational get-together for Mayor Dan Coody last month, I remain convinced that he is the best candidate for mayor of Fayetteville. Citizens of Fayetteville can be proud to live in a city that has progressed with the times in terms of education, transportation and sustainability / eco-friendly living.
Under the leadership of Mayor Coody, Fayetteville has been recognized on a national level (2007 U. S. News & World Report's 10 Best Places to Retire; and 2008 Kiplingers' Best Cities in America Awards, to name just a few ). And he's also been responsible and honest with the tough issues that many cities face: wastewater system overhauls, street repaving, downtown renovations and improvements, and tax reductions.
Even though Mayor Coody has responsibilities on a city, national and international level, he is also interested in educating our children about city government and each individual's role in sustainability. By personal invitation, he carved out time from his busy schedule and visited with the students at my children's elementary school on Earth Day 2008. His humble but knowledgeable demeanor seemed to foster a sense of trust and participation among the students. They were proud to share their eco-friendly stories with him. Stories ranged from the simplest acts, like using recyclable pencils and turning off the water while brushing their teeth. More time consuming efforts such as picking up trash around Lake Fayetteville or driving their church's recyclables to the solid waste facility were also met with Mayor Coody's nod of approval. I believe the students left that day feeling empowered that they could make a positive difference in their city, which translates to future engaged citizens. Allowing more businesses to call Fayetteville home would round out Mayor Coody's government. Some might think he's only interested in green space and sustainability efforts rather than the business community. But having lived in many other places (in Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana and Texas ) I would choose to live and raise my family in a beautiful, peaceful place such as Fayetteville, Ark. For the past eight years our local government has encouraged its citizens to get involved and care for their city. Economic growth flourishes in a place that stands by its values, has honest leadership and preserves its natural heritage.
Sarah Andersen
Fayetteville
Our school board could use Jim Halsell
A wise man once told me,"It's fun to be against things. But there comes a time when you have to be for something. "Many candidates for school board fall into two camps: those who want everything to stay pretty much the same, and those who are against anything the school district puts forward on general principle. Jim Halsell breaks that mold. He wants things to change for the better, but he is patient and constructive enough to work through the system to bring about that change.
Jim Halsell has gone beyond vague principles to name specific goals: preserving neighborhood schools, building a 21 st century high school and hiring a superintendent with a collaborative leadership style. Halsell also supports the big-picture goal that every parent, teacher and citizen I know has wanted for a long time: better communication between the school district and the public. While the City of Fayetteville has involved 1, 500 citizens in four major plans (City Plan 2025 and master plans for downtown, Walker Park and Fayette Junction ), we have not seen that kind of public participation from the school district. Whether it's justified or not, citizens who have supported Fayetteville's schools all their lives have become cynical. They vote down every millage, and look on even the most promising district initiatives with a suspicious eye.
Change takes time, and the school board has already begun a major shift in policy with the exemplary leadership of several board members. Tim Hudson led a committee of teachers, parents and citizens through a long and thoughtful decision-making process over the future of FHS. Tim Kring makes the time to respond with in-depth, insightful e-mails when citizens contact him with concerns. Susan Heil proposed a big-picture, sustainable partnership between the school district and the university. And Becky Purcell has proposed several practical ways for the district and the public to move toward a more collaborative, less antagonistic relationship. Add Jim Halsell to that mix, and you have the makings of a Dream Team. The people who turn out to vote on Tuesday, Oct. 7 will decide whether our district continues business as usual or takes a new direction. We all want change, but when we realize how much time and thankless effort that change demands, most of us take the easy way out - anger, cynicism and kneejerk negativity. Jim Halsell is committed to the change we need in our school district, and he has the patience, the skills and the experience to make that change happen.
Justin Minkel
Fayetteville
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