Fort Smith Director Lorenz to seek re-election, Director Good changes course to run again

Fort Smith City Directors Mike Lorenz and André Good have decided to stick around for another term on the Fort Smith Board of Directors provided voters are willing to have them.

The news came by way of two formal announcements on Monday morning (May 2) with Ward 3 Director Lorenz issuing a press release clarifying his previously undecided position with regard to another four years, and Ward 2 Director Good commenting on Facebook that he has reversed his previous decision to stay out of the race.

Lorenz said the decision to run for a second term was “a difficult one,” but was ultimately based on the support of “family, friends, community business leaders,” and the support of his work family at Shared Services Center-Fort Smith.

“During my first campaign in 2012, I promised to focus on trust, fiscal responsibility and bringing teamwork back to the board,” Lorenz said. “I have met this challenge during my current term, but there is still more to be done if the citizens of Ward 3 allow me to continue working for them another four years.”

Lorenz called the last 18 months “challenging,” but believes his term on the Board has been one of a unified vision with focus on “improving fiscal responsibility and efficiency in city operations, along with a solid effort by the board as a whole to promote a more pro-business environment.”

“Economic development has been strong, with hundreds of new jobs created by new and expanding businesses, both large and small across the city,” he added.

Among the accomplishments Lorenz was proudest of were a “2015 mid-year budget turnaround that provided a budget surplus, and a balanced 2016 budget,” both of which were “able to make a contribution toward correcting the police and fire pension deficit (LOPFI).”

The LOPFI pension fund needs to find $2.1 million in annual funding or the funds could become insolvent by 2030. Lorenz acknowledged that there was still a “tremendous amount of work yet to be done” on that and other issues, and that is why he ultimately chose to run again.

Lorenz also hoped to continue efforts of transforming the city “at an administrative, operational and governmental level” to inspire public trust and increase confidence in city leadership.

WORKING THROUGH CITY PERSONNEL CHANGES
Lorenz and Good touted this last objective as one that presents a lot of opportunity. During their Board tenure, city government has witnessed massive turnover at the highest levels, with most of it coming in the last year.

“With leadership changes in the City Administrator, Police Chief, Fire Chief, H.R., Utilities and Sanitation roles, each director position will be instrumental in shaping our growth and transformation,” Good said in Monday morning’s Facebook announcement. “The past eight years have been an eye-opening learning experience to say the least.”

Former City Administrator Ray Gosack vacated his position suddenly in July 2015 after more than 16 years with the city. Also, former Fort Smith Fire Chief Mike Richards announced his intent to retire two months later after 33 years with the department. That announcement was followed by Human Resources Director Richard Jones stepping down in October after 14 years of service, and 10-year Sanitation Department Head Baridi Nkokheli’s termination by Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman in December.

In March 2016, former Fort Smith Police Chief Kevin Lindsey announced his resignation, effective immediately, over racially charged comments related to the department’s unusually low number of African-American police officers. (The city has not hired a black police officer since 1995 and employs less than 3% in spite of the demographic’s 9% representation in population.) Lindsey said the only way more minorities would be part of the police force would be for white officers “to wear black face.” A city employee with the IT office overheard the comment and asked IT department head Russell Gibson to file a complaint.

Finally, embattled Utilities Director Steve Parke, who endured significant scrutiny from the Board over the city’s $480 million consent decree for violations of the Clean Water Act, retired on April 1, 2016.

Good’s decision to run for a third term, he said, came after speaking with his family and constituents and becoming convinced “that my work is not yet done.”

Good had previously revealed in an interview with Talk Business & Politics that he had no intention of filing to run, stating that while he would be “happy and proud to represent the citizens of Ward 2 for a third term, I understand that the will of the people ultimately determines who fills leadership positions, including this one.”

He continued: “Change is good, but so is experience. I welcome qualified candidates who wish to serve as Fort Smith City Director, Ward 2. I have served two consecutive terms, but I do not own the position; the citizens of Fort Smith do. Therefore, at this time, I do not plan on running for a third term as Fort Smith City Director.”

THE RACE SO FAR
In 2012, Lorenz defeated Matthew Garner by 848 votes (3,986-3,138, or 56%-44%) to win his first term. Good ran unopposed in 2008 and 2012. At this time, neither has had an opponent publicly announce their intent to run, but the filing period does not begin until May 11 and runs until noon on May 26.

Amber Jones of the City Clerk’s office said in comments to TB&P on Monday that names of opposing candidates could not be released until packets had been received and approved, but did note that there has been interest in each of the four positions up for reelection.

Jones said two individuals have picked up packets for Ward 1, where the incumbent is Keith Lau. While Lau has confirmed he will run for reelection, Jones could not confirm whether he was one of those two. She also confirmed the same for Ward 2 (four packets, Good incumbent), Ward 3 (two packets, Lorenz incumbent), and Ward 4 (six packets, George Catsavis incumbent).

The Clerk’s Office will be able to confirm names any time during the filing period once packets are received and accepted.