Mayoral race has implications for Fayetteville, UA
Miles Bryant
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: News
While most of the focus around the nation for the past year has been focused on the presidential election Tuesday, another important election will affect the residents of Fayetteville - the city mayoral race focuses on several of the issues with which Fayetteville residents are concerned.
The mayoral candidates include current Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody, former state Attorney General Steve Clark, Lioneld Jordan, Walt Eilers, Adam Fire Cat and Sami Sutton. All candidates have close ties to either the state of Arkansas, Fayetteville or the UA campus.
But while the Fayetteville mayoral race may determine several important issues regarding the UA and Fayetteville, some students aren't up-to-date on local politics. Students may have run across an article or two in the paper or may have seen a candidate on television, but some don't know who is running for mayor or much about the issues they debate.
"I know nothing about the mayor campaign," admitted Logan Hawley, a sophomore business major from Kansas City.
Although Hawley does not have the ability to vote in the local mayoral election, he does, however, know the name of one of the candidates.
"I saw Fire Cat at Village Inn," he said. "He was my waiter. He seemed like a good worker. I saw him on T.V. the other day, and I couldn't figure out why, but they were talking about political stuff, and now I know he's running for mayor."
However, several UA students are taking a stance in the mayoral race. Among the signs perched in yards, the stickers worn by students throughout campus or the fact that a UA student is even running in the race, the Fayetteville mayoral race is by no means being ignored completely on campus.
But some students still are confused about the issues discussed in the mayoral debates that concern Fayetteville.
One of the issues discussed in the mayoral election is the possibility of a student voting booth on campus.
"I think that if there were a voting booth here on campus, that the students would want to be more involved in what's going on with the election," Hawley said. "We're just not aware of the issues or the candidates. If we had something here on campus, then we would be more involved and more likely to have our voice be heard."
The mayoral candidates include current Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody, former state Attorney General Steve Clark, Lioneld Jordan, Walt Eilers, Adam Fire Cat and Sami Sutton. All candidates have close ties to either the state of Arkansas, Fayetteville or the UA campus.
But while the Fayetteville mayoral race may determine several important issues regarding the UA and Fayetteville, some students aren't up-to-date on local politics. Students may have run across an article or two in the paper or may have seen a candidate on television, but some don't know who is running for mayor or much about the issues they debate.
"I know nothing about the mayor campaign," admitted Logan Hawley, a sophomore business major from Kansas City.
Although Hawley does not have the ability to vote in the local mayoral election, he does, however, know the name of one of the candidates.
"I saw Fire Cat at Village Inn," he said. "He was my waiter. He seemed like a good worker. I saw him on T.V. the other day, and I couldn't figure out why, but they were talking about political stuff, and now I know he's running for mayor."
However, several UA students are taking a stance in the mayoral race. Among the signs perched in yards, the stickers worn by students throughout campus or the fact that a UA student is even running in the race, the Fayetteville mayoral race is by no means being ignored completely on campus.
But some students still are confused about the issues discussed in the mayoral debates that concern Fayetteville.
One of the issues discussed in the mayoral election is the possibility of a student voting booth on campus.
"I think that if there were a voting booth here on campus, that the students would want to be more involved in what's going on with the election," Hawley said. "We're just not aware of the issues or the candidates. If we had something here on campus, then we would be more involved and more likely to have our voice be heard."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Daniel Gold
posted 11/03/08 @ 8:05 PM CST
I'm a DJ on the student radio station KXUA. I posted podcast mp3 interviews with the 6 candidates for Mayor of Fayetteville. The topics are geared towards the University, students, and arts and culture issues. (Continued…)
Ron Ray
posted 11/05/08 @ 12:08 PM CST
I think a name like Fire Cat would show diversity and honesty in Fayetteville for all citizens. Mr. Fire Cat is very knowledgable on the issues and can govern from a level of the average citizen. (Continued…)
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