Cooley enters Fort Smith Director race

Fort Smith businessman John Cooley announced Monday (Mar. 19) he will challenge Fort Smith City Director George Catsavis for the Ward 4 job.

Cooley is a Fort Smith native who have lived and worked in Little Rock and Fayetteville. Since 2001 he has worked in management for Fort Smith-based Propak Logistics, a company that employs around 1,000 in the U.S. He now serves as the executive vice president and chief financial officer for the company.

Community progress and economic opportunity are two factors that drove Cooley to enter the race, according to his statement.

“The economic potential in Fort Smith and Western Arkansas is almost incalculable,” Cooley noted. “This community is where my family and I have chosen to make our lives. I want it to be the best it possibly can and I think I’m qualified to help. If we can focus on long-term development and leveraging the resources of the area then we can make Fort Smith into a catalyst for the entire region.”

Cooley also said he would use his accounting background to push for more accountability and trust between the city and citizens.

“Understanding the budget details for each city department, ensuring accountability for results and then communicating this to the public will help develop a new level of trust between the community and the city,” Cooley said in his statement.

MUNICIPAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Elections will be held for Fort Smith’s four wards in 2012. Directors serve four-year terms. The city filing period is May 16 through June 5. If needed, a municipal primary will be held Aug. 14.

Following are the list of incumbents and candidates in the Ward races.
WARD 1
Fort Smith City Director Steve Tyler (has not yet announced)
Keith Lau
Kenneth Pevehouse

WARD 2
Fort Smith City Director Andre Good (has not yet announced)

WARD 3
Fort Smith City Director Don Hutchings (has announced he will not seek re-election)
Salvatore Salamone

WARD 4
Fort Smith City Director George Catsavis (has said he will seek re-election)
John Cooley

STATEMENT FROM JOHN COOLEY
Fort Smith business executive John Cooley has announced his candidacy for the Fort Smith City Board of Directors, Ward 4.

Cooley is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Propak Logistics, Inc., a privately held, Fort Smith-based company that employs 1,000 throughout the United States. He has served in this capacity with the company since 2001.

“It’s a time of change for the citizens of Fort Smith. It’s a time to be proud of our community and work together to decide what we want our future to hold. The voters have shown that they are ready to move forward and make some real progress. With the right leadership, I believe that we can create some great opportunities for Fort Smith,” said Cooley. “The economic potential in Fort Smith and Western Arkansas is almost incalculable. This community is where my family and I have chosen to make our lives. I want it to be the best it possibly can and I think I’m qualified to help. If we can focus on long-term development and leveraging the resources of the area then we can make Fort Smith into a catalyst for the entire region.”

After graduating from Southside High School in 1988, Cooley graduated from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration in 1992. Cooley began his career with Arthur Andersen LLP in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1992 as Senior/Staff Auditor. In 1997, he was named Director of Financial Reporting & Investor Relations for StaffMark, Inc. in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

“As someone who has spent the last 20 years involved in finance and administration, I’d like to take a close look at the services that are being provided in this city and understand the value and cost for each of these services. Understanding the budget details for each city department, ensuring accountability for results and then communicating this to the public will help develop a new level of trust between the community and the city,” continued Cooley.

Cooley is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He has served the community by volunteering his time on organizational boards for the Fort Smith Museum of History and the Center for Arts and Education. He is a member of First United Methodist Church and has served as Chairperson and Board Member for the First United Methodist Church Foundation as well as sitting on the Advisory Board.

John and his wife, Elise, have two children.