Six mayoral candidates discuss platforms
Samantha Sigmon
Issue date: 9/15/08 Section: News
St. Paul's Episcopal Church hosted the first Mayoral debate Thursday night. Fayetteville's six mayoral candidates were seated on a long table in front of about 200 Fayetteville citizens eager to learn about each of them.
The debate was sponsored by the Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods and The Northwest Arkansas Times. The candidates -- Walt Eilers, Adam Fire Cat, Dan Coody, Steve Clark, Lioneld Jordan and Sami Sutton -- were asked questions picked at random. The first candidate had three minutes to answer a particular question while the other five had one minute each to respond.
"I think the first debate went relatively well," said attendee Matthew Petty, "but I was dissapointed there weren't more questions dealing with the specifics of future policy…I thought most of the questions and answers were without much substance, but it was good to get a general feel for the candidates' positions on some of the broader issues."
Eilers has been an English teacher, negotiator, marketing research consultant, telecommunications marketing executive in cellular and broad band. He is currently the president of two companies, he said.
Fire Cat said he joined the race because he was evicted from his rent house due to having more than four cars in his drive-way while having friends over. He thought this was ridiculous and decided to run.
Coody, who has been Fayetteville mayor for about eight years, said. he's "passionate about this community, and [would] like to keep that passion going,"
Clark has the experience of being an attorney, law professor, mediator, arbitrator, businessman and founder of a behavioral health care business, former Chief of Staff to former Governor David Pryor and the longest serving Attorney General in Arkansas history, serving 12 years, he said.
"I wanted to run for Mayor to use my experience and leadership skills to focus our city's future and protect its character that makes Fayetteville Arkansas's finest city," Clark said. "I believe that economic development occurs when preparation meets opportunity. As Mayor I intend to see that Fayetteville is prepared to attract and develop knowledge based jobs."
The debate was sponsored by the Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods and The Northwest Arkansas Times. The candidates -- Walt Eilers, Adam Fire Cat, Dan Coody, Steve Clark, Lioneld Jordan and Sami Sutton -- were asked questions picked at random. The first candidate had three minutes to answer a particular question while the other five had one minute each to respond.
"I think the first debate went relatively well," said attendee Matthew Petty, "but I was dissapointed there weren't more questions dealing with the specifics of future policy…I thought most of the questions and answers were without much substance, but it was good to get a general feel for the candidates' positions on some of the broader issues."
Eilers has been an English teacher, negotiator, marketing research consultant, telecommunications marketing executive in cellular and broad band. He is currently the president of two companies, he said.
Fire Cat said he joined the race because he was evicted from his rent house due to having more than four cars in his drive-way while having friends over. He thought this was ridiculous and decided to run.
Coody, who has been Fayetteville mayor for about eight years, said. he's "passionate about this community, and [would] like to keep that passion going,"
Clark has the experience of being an attorney, law professor, mediator, arbitrator, businessman and founder of a behavioral health care business, former Chief of Staff to former Governor David Pryor and the longest serving Attorney General in Arkansas history, serving 12 years, he said.
"I wanted to run for Mayor to use my experience and leadership skills to focus our city's future and protect its character that makes Fayetteville Arkansas's finest city," Clark said. "I believe that economic development occurs when preparation meets opportunity. As Mayor I intend to see that Fayetteville is prepared to attract and develop knowledge based jobs."
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