Lorenz takes second shot at Fort Smith Board

With Mike Lorenz entering the fray, three of the four ward races for the Fort Smith Board of Directors will be contested.

Lorenz announced Monday (April 30) he would seek the Ward 3 post, a post initially sought by Salvatore Salamone, an executive with Golden Living. However, Salamone on Monday (April 23) reversed course and said he would not run in the Ward 3 job.

Alex Cardenas, a small business owner and native of east Oklahoma, also has announced he will run for the Ward 3 post.

The Ward 3 position is now held by Director Don Hutchings. Hutchings, a pastor at Evangel Temple, is not seeking re-election to a second, four-year term.

It will be a second attempt at the board for Lorenz. He lost by a 56%-44% margin in 2006 against Gary Campbell for an at-large director post.

Lorenz, 38, is a 1992 graduate of Southside High School and has a bachelors degree in business finance. He is collections manager for Golden Living Administrative Services and former owner of Atlas Uniforms, Atlas Apparel and Precision Graphix.

“My business and public service experience, along with a fiscal conservative philosophy and my family's history in our community have taught me what I need to be a successful director and to meet the challenges we face as a city,” Lorenz said in his statement. “If you choose me for your director, I intend to not only address the current and future issues that our city faces, but to promote teamwork and challenge the other board members and citizens of Fort Smith to share bringing back a sense of civility and trust to our city government.” (Link here to Lorenz's campaign Facebook page.)

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 who have announced for the Ward races.
WARD 1
Liz Berry-Armstrong
Keith Lau
Ken Pevehouse

WARD 2
Fort Smith City Director Andre Good

WARD 3
Alex Cardenas
Mike Lorenz

WARD 4
Fort Smith City Director George Catsavis
John Cooley

STATEMENT FROM MIKE LORENZ
Mike J. Lorenz announced his candidacy to serve as the Ward Three representative on the Fort Smith Board of Directors. Lorenz decided to run after "family, friends and former supporters began contacting me to urge me to consider entering the race." He added, "This election is about trust, fiscal responsibility and bringing team work back to the board and I can meet that challenge." Lorenz is supported by his wife of 19 years, Wendy, and his children, Adison (16), Kiera (12), and Ty (7).

Lorenz says "To be a great ward in a great city means safe streets, superior city services, strong fiscal responsibility, and a pro-business and economic development attitude. City government must be responsive, efficient, and communicate effectively with the citizens." He stated that his campaign hopes to inspire an increase in city government trust by the citizens and will seek public conversation regarding critical issues and solutions that "reflect the views of the citizens of Fort Smith rather than those of special interests."

Lorenz, 38, is a Fort Smith native, 1992 graduate of Southside High School and has a Bachelor of Science in Business-Finance. He is currently Collections Manager for Golden Living Administrative Services and former owner of Atlas Uniforms, Atlas Apparel and Precision Graphix. Mike has served on of the Fianna Hills Property Owners Association board for the past seven years and for the past five years as President of the largest neighborhood in the city. He has served on the Fort Smith Planning Commission and on the Board of Zoning Adjustment since 2007. He also was the President of the Arkansas Hare Scramble Championship Series, a statewide motorcycle racing organization for six years and has promoted two racing events in the Fort Smith area annually for the past 18 years.

Lorenz added, "My business and public service experience, along with a fiscal conservative philosophy and my family's history in our community have taught me what I need to be a successful director and to meet the challenges we face as a city. If you choose me for your director, I intend to not only address the current and future issues that our city faces, but to promote teamwork and challenge the other board members and citizens of Fort Smith to share bringing back a sense of civility and trust to our city government."

For further information, contact Mike Lorenz at: [email protected]